YONGHO S.

LOUIS

E D
E
E H U
K O
TA
ST Y
E
L ALL
F
ￇ̦ʟͱ΢ￇͱҍ￦ￇɠx￦΢ŎŸ￦Ÿɠx΢űɍŸ
YŎϕ͂YŎ
Copyright © -Notes-
CAMEROON Publications

NKWEN, BAMENDA – CAMEROON

FIRST PUBLISHED:

P.O BOX 5236, Nkwen, Bamenda – Cameroon

Contact: 677276635 – yongholouis@gmail.com

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, recording, faxing,
photocopying or otherwise without prior permission in
writing from the author, EDITORS or publisher.

ISBN:
White, E. G. (1911). Education. Mountain View,
California: Pacific Press Publishing Association
White, E. G. (1943). Counsels to parents, teachers
and students. Mountain View CA: Pacific Press
Publishing Association
White E. G. (1946). The desire of ages. Nashville, Appreciation
Tennessee: Southern Publishing Association.
White E. G. (1946). The desire of ages. Nashville,
Tennessee: Southern Publishing Association. I want to express my appreciation to
collections from the teachings of Victory
Zulueta, F.M. & Costales. N. Jr. (2003). Methods of
research: Thesis–writing and applied statistics. Outreach Ministries Cameroon Bible Study
Mandaluyong City: National Book Store. Services and thanks to the authors whose works
I have used to build up this book.
Zvandasara, N. Z. (1997). Leading the leader. Berrien
Springs, Michigan: Legal Books.
----Thank you very much.-----

206

Dedication
This book is dedicated to God Almighty,
the Body of Christ worldwide and especially to
Christians of Victory Outreach Ministries, who
have taken up the commission of our Lord
Jesus to preach to all.
i 205
Teesdale, H. W. (1945). Youth problems. Washington
D.C.: Review and Herald
Publishing Association.
The National Sunday Law. (1992) San Diego
California: Pacific Institute.
The Unger’s Bible Dictionary. (1988). Chicago,
Illinois: Moody Press of Chicago.
Thompson, F, C. (1984). Chain reference study Bible.
London: Hodder & Stoughton,
Treadwell, W. C. (1981). Conflict ministry. Nashville:
Broadman Press.
Turner, H. A. (Jr.). (1971). The reformation in
medieval perspective. Chicago:
Ovadrangle Books.
Wagner, P. C. (1994). Your spiritual gifts. Ventura,
California, USA: Legal Books,,
Walker, W., Norris, R. A., Lotz, D. W. & Handy, R.T.
(1986). A history of the Christian Church. (4th ed.).
Edinburgh: T
Warren, L. J. (1976). Dateline Sunday USA. Omaha,
Nebraska: Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Nelson, T. (1982). The New King James Version-
Containing The Old and New Acknowledgements
Testaments. (Written seminar ed.). New York:
Thomas Nelson Publishers.
I wish to acknowledge the great Christian
Nichol, F.D. (ed.). (1980). Seventh-day Adventist
families of Victory Outreach Ministries
Bible commentary. The Holy Bible with exegetical
Cameroon.
and expository comment .Washington, D.C.: Review
and Herald Publishing Association,
I am very grateful to God for His people. I thank
Norris, L. (1996). Paul’s charter of Christian freedom.
Downers Grove: Illinois You sincerely.

Intervarsity Press.
I give Special Thanks my Spiritual father, Apostle
Oberman, H. A. (1994). The impact of the Talla Georges for his patience and great spiritual
reformation. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Ww. B.
outpouring. Your love has proven true. I can’t
Erdmann Publishing Company.
forget my Spiritual mother of blesseth memory,
1000 great lives. (1975). London: Hamlyn Publishing
Pastor Talla Linda.
Group.
Hanks, P. (ed.). (1982). Collins Dictionary of the I am grateful for my wife Vera for her full
English Language. Glasgow: Rand McNally &
support.
Company.
Pipim, S. K. (1996). Receiving the Word. Berrien
Springs, Michigan: Andrews
University Press.

204 ii
 TABLE OF CONTENT
Dedication......................................................................i
Acknowledgement.........................................................ii
Table of Content...........................................................iii
Chapter One: Introduction............................................1
Chapter Two: Biblical Warnings against Apostasy.,,,,..5
Chapter Three: Symptoms of Apostasy..............,,,......18
Chapter Four: Take Heed Lest You Fall..................... 30
Chapter Five: The Church: Yesterday And Today...,,.49
Chapter Six: What Causes Apostasy?.....................,,...63
Chapter Seven: Today Church Apostasy.....................73
Chapter Eight: Warning Signs of Personal Apostasy..77
Chapter Nine: There’s A Wolf in the House - Signs of
Apostasy.......................................................................82
Chapter Ten: The Dangers of Apostasy.......................97
Chapter Eleven: How to Survive and Thrive In the
Apostasy......................................................................125
Chapter Twelve: Apostasy and Church
Prostitution................................................................149
iii
Marjie, L. L. (1981). Why the back swings.
Hagerstown, Maryland: Review and Herald
Publishing Association.
Marvision, M. (1979). Television and the Christian
home. Mountain View: Pacific Press Publishing
Association.
Mbiti, J. S. (1982). African religions and philosophy.
London: Heinemann.
McGauran, D. A. (1990). Understanding church
growth. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Erdmann Publishing Company.
McKenna, D. L. (1986). Renewing our ministry.
Waco, Texas: Word Books.
McSwan, L.L. & Treadwell, W.C. (1981). Conflict
ministry. Nashville: Broadman Press.
Miravalle, M. (1991). Helping families to live the
message. Steubenville: Franciscan University Press.
Mittleider, K. J. (1979). Your church and you.
Nashville, Tennessee: South Publishing Association.
Morneau, R. J. (1997). Beware of angels - Deception
in the last days. Washingtone: Review & Herald
Publishing Association.
203
Knight, G.R. (1999). A brief history of Seventh-day Chapter Thirteen: Good Reasons for Leaving
Adventists. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald
Church...............................................................162
Publishing Association..
Chapter Fourteen: Apostasy and
Knight, G.R. (2006). Organizing for missions and
growth: The development of Adventist Church Disloyalty...........................................................167
structures. Hagerstown: Review and Herald Chapter Fifteen: Final Warning and Judgment
Publishing Association.
against Apostasy.................................................172
Knight, R, K. (2005). Exploring Galatians and
References..........................................................196
Ephesians. A devotional commentary. Hagerstown:
Review & Herald Publishing Association.
Lall, B. M. & Lall, G.R. (1979). Dynamic leadership.
Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Publishing
Association.
Leas, S. & Kittlaus, P. (1937). Church fights:
Managing conflicts in the local church. Philadelphia:
The Westminster Press.
Louw, J. P. & Nida, E. A. (1993). Greek – English
lexicon of the New Testament, vol. 2: Based on
semantic domains. Cape Town: United Bible
Societies, South Africa.
Luther, M. (1953). A commentary on St. Paul’s
Epistle to the Galatians. London: James Clarke.
Luther, M. (1995) Three treatises. Philadelphia:
Fortress Press.
202 iv
 Hartness, J. & Neil E. (1993). The 24 hour
turnaround. Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell, Baker
Book House Company.
Hiebert, P. G. (1994). Anthropological reflections on
missiological issues. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker
Book House Company..
Holbrook, F, B (n.d.). Faith amid apostasy. Boise,
Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing
Association.
Then you will know
Hopewell, J. F. (1987). Congregation: Stories and
the truth, and the structures. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Nida, E.A. & Louw, J.P. (eds). 1988. Greek English
truth will set you
lexicon of the New Testament (Based on semantic
free.” Jn.8:32 domains) Volume 2. Cape Town: United Bible
Societies South Africa.
Kauffman, D. T. (1985). Baker’s concise dictionary
of religion. Michigan, Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House.
Kellerfeld, A. I. (1952). Morning star of Wittenberg.
Washington: Review and Herald Publishing
Association.

201
Publishing Company. CHAPTER ONE
Gelder, C. V. (2000). The essence of the Church. INTRODUCTION
Grand Rapids. Michigan: Baker Book House.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
Hadaway, K. C. (1990). Creative leadership series:
day shall not come, except there come a falling away
What can we do about church
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
dropouts? Nashville: Abingdon Press. Hamilton, P.
perdition;” - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
& Shopes. L. (2008). Oral history and public
memories. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. What is Apostasy?
Hanks, P. (ed.). (1982). Collins dictionary of the The word “apostasy” is not found in the
English language. Glasgow: and McNally &
Bible (KJV). So you may ask the question, “what
Company for William Collins Sons.
is apostasy in the church?” The definition of
Hanks, P. (ed.). 1979. Collins English dictionary
apostasy according to About.com is ”Turning
Glasgow: Harper Collins
or falling away from true gospel
Hansen, G, W. (1994). Galatians. The IVP New teachings as individuals or as a
Testament Commentary Series. Illinois: Downers
people”…the definition according to
Grove, Illinois Intervarsity.
TheFreeDictionary.com is ”Abandonment of
Hanson, W. & McNeill D. (ed). (2002). Making
one’s religious faith, a political party,
ethical decisions. Los Angeles:
one’s principles, or a cause.”
Josephson Institute of ethics, CA.
Apostasy in churches can be found from the
Hartley, R. (1972). Growing pains: First aid for
mega-churches that you see on television to the
teenagers. Hamilton, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell
Company.
small local church. One can visit many of these
churches on any given Sunday and find things
200 1
being taught and acted out that are not of God.
Now I must say that not all churches have fallen
into apostasy. The Bible makes it clear that there
will be some faithful Christians that will endure
until the end. But the Bible does warn that an
epidemic of false doctrines will invade the church
as the return of Christ draws nearer and
nearer. And it is becoming more and more
commonplace today which signifies the end is
near.
Apostasy is the old, vigorous word to
describe this abandonment of Christ. The New
Testament church was familiar with it. It was a
major concern of the author of Hebrews. That is
why he wrote the often-discussed words
of Hebrews 6:4–6: Those once enlightened, who
have tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers
of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good Word of God
and the powers of the coming age—if they fall
away cannot be renewed again to repentance.
Some in the early church thought that the
phrase “cannot be renewed” meant that those
2 199
Donko, K. (ed). (2011). The Church, culture and
spirit- Adventism in Africa. Hagerstown: Review and
Herald Publishing Association.
Dudley, R. L. (1980). Why teenagers reject religion
and what to do about it. Washington D.C.: Review &
Herald Publishing Association.
Dudley, R. L. (1986). Passing on the torch.
Washington D.C.: Review & Herald
Publishing Association.
Dwight, M. P. (1996). International Standard Bible
Encyclopaedia. Grand Rapids: Michigan, Eerdmans.
Elwell, A. W. & Robert, W. Y. (1997). Encountering
the New Testament: A historical and theological
survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Company
Field, A. (2005). Discovering statistics using SPSS.
(2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications.
Findly, G, G. (1902). The epistle to the Galatians: The
expositor’s Bible. New York: A.C. Armstrong & Sons.
Frank, B. (1994). Faith amid apostasy. Boise: Pacific
Press Publishing Association.
Gay. L. R. (1981). Educational research. (2nd ed.).
Columbus: Charles E. Merrill
Chapman, R.L. (1988). Roget’s international
thesaurus. (4th ed).. New York: Harper Collins
Publishers.
Cleveland, E. E. (2006). Evangelist extraordinary.
Lincoln, Nebraska: Centre for
Creative Ministry.
Cohen, L. & Manion, L. (2005). Research methods
in education. New York: Macmillan Publishing
Company.
Copley, T. (2005). Indoctrination, education and
God: The struggle for the mind. London: Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Dancan, G. S. (1934). The epistle of Paul to the
Galatians. The Moffatt New Testament Commentary.
New York: Harper & Brothers.
Dave Hunt, “Revival or Apostasy,” The Berean Call,
October 1997, p. 2.
Denis, P. & Ntsimane, R. (2008). Oral history –
History in a wounded country. Natal: University of
KwaZulu Natal. Natal Press, South Africa.
Dobson, J. (1970). Dare to discipline. Wheaton,
Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers.
198
who stumbled could not be received back into
fellowship. But our author does not have the
penitent in mind. Rather, he is thinking of those
whose hardness of heart blocks the way to the
cross and proves irreversible.
It has been said that there is no more
powerful or detailed description of the true
Christian in the New Testament than in the words
of Hebrews 6:4–6. That is surely a breathtaking
statement in the light of what is said about the
first readers a few verses later. The author is
confident of something “better” in them—the very
things that accompany salvation (6:9). The
implication is that, however powerful the
experiences described in 6:4–6 may be, these are
not the definitive marks of a Christian. They may
be present when genuine faith is absent. In fact,
Hebrews is telling us that which is possible to
experience without actually being a Christian.
Something must be missing therefore from
this list of influences and experiences. What
Hebrews has already said about an earlier
3
generation brings it to light: “the gospel was
preached … to them; but the word which they
heard did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith” (Heb. 4:2 NKJV). There was no real trust
in Christ, the crucified, risen, and reigning Savior.
The truth and the power of the gospel were
experienced. But “experience” in itself is not
regeneration unless gospel grace penetrates into
the heart. Hebrews 6:4–6 makes no mention of
the crucified One being trusted and sin being
rejected. Rather, despite rich spiritual
experiences, heart unbelief and rejection of
Christ, crucifying Him ourselves, are
grimly possible.
4 197
Barker, K. (ed.). (1985). The New International
Version Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible
Publishers.
Best, J.W. & Kahn, J. (1993). Research in
education.(7th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Bigner, J. J. (1997). Parent – child relationship. New
York: Macmillan Publishing
Company.
Bradford, C. E. (1999). Sabbath roots- The African
connection.Vermont: L. Brown & Sons,
Burton, B. B., Grant, R. O. & Philip W. C. (1994).
Galatians. Life application Bible commentary.
Wheaton Illinois: Tyndale House.
Callahan, K. L. (1983). Twelve keys to an effective
church.San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers.
Cantor, N. F. (1969). Medieval history. New York:
McMillan Publishing..
Cassimy, S. D., Jules, A. J. & Satelmajer, N. (eds).
(2009). A guide to effective pastoral ministry.
Nampo, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association,
2009.
 CHAPTER TWO
REFERENCES
BIBLICAL WARNINGS AGAINST APOSTASY

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture

references are from the various Versions. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of
many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12

Abram, L. (2011). Oral history theory. London:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.
day shall not come, except there come a falling
Adams, J. E. (1979). A theology of Christian away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
counselling. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan
son of perdition; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Publishing House.
Arrais, J. (2011). Wanted: A good pastor. Silver
Hebrews 6:4-8
Spring General Conference Ministerial Association,
For in the case of those who have once been
Maryland, USA.
enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift
Awoniyi, S.A. & Alege, B.A (eds). (2007). General
and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
education studies for prospective teachers series 5.
Ilorin, Nigeria: Fat Yusuf Prtg. Productions. and have tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come, and then have fallen
Awoniyi, S. S., Aderanti, R.A. & Tayo, A.S. (2011).
away, it is impossible to renew them again to
Introduction to research methods Sango Ibadan:
Ababa Press. repentance, since they again crucify to themselves
the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Balstor, R. H. (1950). Here I stand. New York:
Abingdon Press.
196 5
Matthew 13:20-21 power and authority through Jesus Christ our
“The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky Lord before all ages now and forevermore.
places, this is the man who hears the word and Amen.”
immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no
firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and
when affliction or persecution arises because of
the word, immediately he falls away.
Mark 4:16-17
“In a similar way these are the ones on whom
seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when
they hear the word, immediately receive it with
joy; and they have no firm root in themselves,
but are only temporary; then, when affliction or
persecution arises because of the word,
immediately they fall away.
Luke 8:13
“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they
hear, receive the word with joy; and these have
no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time
of temptation fall away.
Matthew 26:14-16

6 195
this night. Enter the ark of God’s salvation, run
to the city of refuge, and be safe forever. If not,
you shall fall into his hands, and no mountain
can hide you from the fearsome wrath of the
Sovereign Judge.
It is a frightening thing to be cast into the
lake of fire on the day when he judges all who
treated him with contempt. Jesus himself said,
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One
who can kill the soul and body in hell” (Matt.
10:28). As John Newton wrote, “It is grace that
taught my heart to fear and grace my fears
relieved.”
If you are a child of God, if you have trusted
in Christ and are walking carefully, fear not. He
shall keep you from falling (cf. John 6:39-40;
10:27-29). Consider Jude 24: “To him who is able
to keep you from falling and to present you before
his glorious presence without fault and with great
joy, to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty,
194
Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said, “What are you
willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And
they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him.
From then on he began looking for a good
opportunity to betray Jesus.
Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve,
went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him
to them. They were glad when they heard this,
and promised to give him money. And he began
seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.
Matthew 24:10-12
“At that time many will fall away and will betray
one another and hate one another.”Many false
prophets will arise and will mislead many.
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s
love will grow cold.
Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving
the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying
7
expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A
FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE
ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the
Law of Moses dies without mercy on the
testimony of two or three witnesses.
Galatians 1:6
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting
Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a
different gospel;
Luke 22:3-6
And Satan entered into Judas who was called
Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.
And he went away and discussed with the chief
priests and officers how he might betray Him to
them. They were glad and agreed to give him
money.
Matthew 10:33
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also
deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Luke 13:26-27
8 193
HOW TO AVOID APOSTASY
What must we do in light of this teaching,
especially if we have been falling away? I would
say that we should be like David. Although he
sinned terribly, he chose to cast himself upon the
Lord, saying, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall
into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great”
(2 Sam. 24:14). Let us repent truly and believe in
Jesus the Son of God. Trust in his blood that
cleanses us from all sins and justifies and
sanctifies us. He will save us and help us to live a
holy life to the end.
Brothers and sisters, beware of Korah and
company, of Achan and Saul, of Judas and Demas
and others, who would entice you to join in their
apostasy. Above all, take heed of God’s word that
speaks about the coming apostasy (Matt. 24:10-
13; 1 Tim. 4:1-8; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:19).
Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and
do so now, not tomorrow. Your life is not under
your control; God may demand your soul even
Scripture speaks, that is the end of all argument,
because the author of Scripture is God himself.
In Hebrews 10:30 he writes, “For we know him
who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and
again, ‘The Lord will judge his people,’” citing
Deuteronomy 32:35-36.
Then he concludes, “It is a dreadful thing
to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb.
10:31). It is terrifying, scary, dreadful to fall into
the hands of the living God. The eternal God is
not an idol of human creation. As Creator of all,
he is necessarily the Judge of all.
No one can run away from the living God.
We all must face him; there is no escape. Not even
suicide will solve our sin problem. Pagans and
apostates go to hell the moment they die to
experience torment and agony there waiting for
greater judgment.
192
“Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in
Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and
He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you
are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU
EVILDOERS.’
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not
come unless the apostasy comes first, and the
man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of
destruction,
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in
this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of
Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes
in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears
tickled, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance to their own desires, and
will turn away their ears from the truth and will
turn aside to myths.
9
Luke 12:9
but he who denies Me before men will be denied
before the angels of God.
1 Timothy 4:1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times
some will fall away from the faith, paying
attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons,
John 15:6
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown
away as a branch and dries up; and they gather
them, and cast them into the fire and they are
burned.
1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not really
of us; for if they had been of us, they would have
remained with us; but they went out, so that it
would be shown that they all are not of us.
2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we
deny Him, He also will deny us;
10
“into the fiery furnace, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42).
Revelation 20 tells us that anyone whose name
is not found in the book of life will be cast into
the lake of fire.
Referring to Deuteronomy 17, the author
says, “Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died
without mercy on the testimony of two or three
witnesses” (Heb. 10:28). The author then argues
from the lesser to the greater: If that was so about
the one who defied the Mosaic law, how much
worse punishment will those get who received
fullness of the revelation of the gospel? In other
words, they received physical death, but
apostates will get eternal death. He used this
argument already: “For if the message spoken by
angels was binding and every violation and
disobedience received its just punishment, how
shall we escape if we neglect a such great
salvation?” (Heb. 2:2-3). Finally, he gives proof
for the utter judgment of the apostate. The habit
of this author is to cite Scripture, and when
191
blazed with fire . . . You saw no form of any kind
the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the
fire . . . For the Lord your God is a consuming
fire, a jealous God . . . Has any other people heard
the voice of God speaking out of fire as you have
and lived? . . From heaven he made you hear his
voice to discipline you; on earth, he showed you
his great fire and you heard his words from out
of the fire” (vv. 11, 15, 24, 33, 36).
Do we see God as consuming fire? Exodus
20:20 says the fear of God will keep us from
sinning. A sinning person has no fear of God. It
is that simple.
Few churches today speak about sin and
judgment. But consider this picture of hell that
we find in the last chapter of Isaiah: God’s people
“will go out and look upon the dead bodies of
those who rebelled against [God]; their worm will
not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they
will be loathsome to all mankind” (Is. 66:24).
Jesus himself spoke of unbelievers being thrown
190
Hebrews 3:12
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one
of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away
from the living God.
2 Peter 3:17
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,
be on your guard so that you are not carried away
by the error of unprincipled men and fall from
your own steadfastness,
Deuteronomy 13:1-11
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises
among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and
the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning
which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after
other gods (whom you have not known) and let
us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words
of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for
the LORD your God is testing you to find out if
you love the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul.
11
2 Samuel 7:15
but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him,
as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from
before you.
2 Chronicles 26:16-21
But when he became strong, his heart was so
proud that he acted corruptly, and he was
unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered
the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the
altar of incense. Then Azariah the priest entered
after him and with him eighty priests of the
LORD, valiant men. They opposed Uzziah the
king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to
burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests,
the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn
incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have
been unfaithful and will have no honor from the
LORD God.”
John 6:66
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew
and were not walking with Him anymore.
12
terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with
fear’” (Heb. 12:21). We do not fear God because
our eyes are blinded by Satan so that we do not
see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, it is important that
God’s people know the terror of the Lord. Paul
says, “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we
persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11, KJV). God is a raging
fire who consumes his enemies (Heb. 10:27).
Leviticus 10 describes how Nadab and Abihu
were consumed by fire that came out from God.
The holiness of God came and ate up the priests
of the Lord, as it later ate up the 250 friends of
Korah (Num. 16:35). It is time for us to adjust
our view of God and worship him in the beauty
of his holiness. “Raging fire” means God is
essentially holy. Surrender to him and be saved,
or oppose him and be consumed by his holiness.
In Deuteronomy 4 Moses refers to the fire
of God’s holiness several times: “You came near
and stood at the foot of the mountain while it
189
a miserable death and enter hell to await an even
more horrible eternal punishment.
“Such a person has a fearful expectation of
judgment” (Heb. 10:27). Deep within every
unbeliever is a fearful expectation of judgment
coming, because there is a God-consciousness in
everyone. Everyone knows he must eventually
face God.
God himself is the Judge of all men (Heb.
12:23). Jonathan Edwards spoke from
Deuteronomy 32:35 about sinners in the hands
of an angry God. He said in due time their foot
shall slip and they shall fall into God’s hands. The
living God is not a postulate of human minds. He
is not made of clay, that we can fashion him as a
God of love and not of wrath. He is love and he is
holy. He is Savior, but he is also Judge.
When God came upon Mount Horeb, the
mountain itself was quaking and set ablaze. The
people were frightened, and “the sight was so
188
Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife
Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back
some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full
knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it
at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why
has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
and to keep back some of the price of the land?
1 Timothy 1:19-20
keeping faith and a good conscience, which some
have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard
to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and
Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan,
so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they
deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and
worthless for any good deed.
13
2 Timothy 4:10
for Demas, having loved this present world, has
deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens
has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
2 Peter 2:1-3
But false prophets also arose among the people,
just as there will also be false teachers among you,
who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the Master who bought them,
bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of
them the way of the truth will be maligned; and
in their greed they will exploit you with false
words; their judgment from long ago is not idle,
and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:10-15
and especially those who indulge the flesh in its
corrupt desires and despise authority Daring,
self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile
angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater
in might and power do not bring a reviling
judgment against them before the Lord. But
these, like unreasoning animals, born as
14
We find several references to eternal judgment
throughout this epistle: “instruction about
baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection
of the dead, and eternal judgment. . . Just as man
is destined to die once and after that to
face judgment . . . But only a fearful expectation
of judgment . . . It is mine to avenge; I will repay .
. . Marriage should be honored by all and the
marriage bed kept pure, for God willjudge the
adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Heb. 6:2;
9:27; 10:27, 30; 13:4, italics added).
Verse 26 says that for such apostates, no
sacrifice for sins remains because they have
rejected the only sacrifice God would accept on
our behalf. The wages of sin is death, but God’s
Son became incarnate so that he could die in our
place and make atonement for our sins (Rom.
6:23, Heb. 2:17). When we reject his atonement,
no more sacrifice is left for us. The one who rejects
Jesus, is doomed forever; it is impossible to
redeem such an apostate. He will eventually die
187
to watch our home and livestock. One Sunday
when it was my turn, a neighbor came and started
singing in a mocking manner a song about the
Holy Spirit: “O Divine God, set me on fire by the
divine Spirit of God.” As he was singing, I looked
up and noticed that his house on fire. When he
saw it, this man stopped mocking and ran, but it
was too late. His house was totally consumed.
Though we may not experience such immediate
consequences, we must be careful not to insult
the Spirit of grace, for God will judge apostates.
GOD’S JUDGMENT OF APOSTATES
The second point, then, is God’s judgment
of apostates. The greater our knowledge, the
greater our responsibility; therefore, the greater
the judgment God will mete out on those who
fall away. The cross of Christ declares both God’s
love and God’s holiness. God must necessarily
judge sin, and he does so, either in Jesus Christ
or in those who defy him. The one who neglects
the gospel will be judged by Christ.
186
creatures of instinct to be captured and killed,
reviling where they have no knowledge, will in
the destruction of those creatures also be
destroyed,
2 Peter 2:20-22
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of
the world by the knowledge of the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in
them and are overcome, the last state has become
worse for them than the first. For it would be
better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than having known it, to turn away
from the holy commandment handed on to them.
It has happened to them according to the true
proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN
VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to
wallowing in the mire.”
Jude 1:4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed,
those who were long beforehand marked out for
this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn
15
the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny
our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:8-16
Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming,
defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile
angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel,
when he disputed with the devil and argued about
the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce
against him a railing judgment, but said, “The
Lord rebuke you!” But these men revile the things
which they do not understand; and the things
which they know by instinct, like unreasoning
animals, by these things they are destroyed.
1 Samuel 15:11
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has
turned back from following Me and has not
carried out My commands “ And Samuel was
distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.
Revelation 2:20-22
‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the
woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
16
( Hebrews 2:4, 7; 6:4; 9:14; and 10:15). Such
grieving of the Third Person of the Trinity is the
sin that cannot be forgiven, as Jesus himself says:
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of
Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks
against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either
in this age or in the age to come” (Matt. 12:32).
The apostle John calls this the sin that leads to
eternal death. The church is told not to pray for
such a person because he is doomed to
destruction. His repentance is impossible (1 John
5:16).
Apostates show contempt for all three
Persons of the Godhead. They trample underfoot
their work of salvation, despising the living God
and his saving work. They are known for their
insolent self-assertion against the eternal,
almighty God.
What will happen to such people? Let me
illustrate with a story from my own childhood.
When I was a boy growing up in South India, one
of us would always have to stay home on Sundays
185
Anyone who hears the gospel and refuses to and she teaches and leads My bond-servants
believe is trampling down the only Savior. astray so that they commit acts of immorality and
eat things sacrificed to idols. ‘I gave her time to
Verse 29 also says such people consider repent, and she does not want to repent of her
Christ’s blood to be filthy. The heaven-sent blood immorality. ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of
that justifies and sanctifies us and brings about sickness, and those who commit adultery with
forgiveness of all our sins; the blood that cleanses her into great tribulation, unless they repent of
our consciences and secures us admittance to the her deeds.
presence of God; the blood that is the only divine
provision to cleanse us is seen as unclean. This is
utter contempt for the work of Christ. Apostates
consider the blood of Jesus to be the same as that
of common men and reject its eternal efficacy to
save sinners. They are sophisticated people who
reject the cross and the doctrine of
substitutionary atonement, although it was the
blood of Christ that ushered in the new covenant
blessings of a new heart, knowledge of God, and
total forgiveness of sins..

In verse 29 we also read that they insult

the Spirit of grace, whose responsibility it is to
apply Christ’s redemption to sinners by granting
them grace. They insult the Holy Spirit who
dwells in the church and blesses Christians
184 17
 CHAPTER THREE
SYMPTOMS OF APOSTASY
The solemn fact is that none of us can tell
the difference between the beginning of
backsliding and the beginning of apostasy. Both
look the same. So what are the tell-tale signs of
this sickness unto death? Are there early
symptoms that might alert us to our
spiritual danger?
1. Compromise
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we
keep His commandments. He who says, “I know
Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is
a liar, and the truth is not in him.” - 1 John 2:3-
4 underfoot-this One who is greater than angels,
One way in which the “falling away” occurs
is through compromise. End time prophecy
reveals the antichrist will come to power by
focusing on the economic trouble and creating a
one-world system. A classic trick of satan is to
18
first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to
us by those who heard him. God also testified to
it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and
gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to
his will. . . . It is impossible for those who have
once been enlightened, who have tasted the
heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the power of the coming age, if they fall away,
to be brought back to repentance” (Heb. 2:1-4;
6:4-6b).
What else characterizes apostates? “Such
people trample underfoot the Son of God” (Heb.
10:29). Apostates treat Jesus Christ with
extreme disgust and contempt. They reject
his deity and sinless humanity. They grind him
greater than Moses, greater than Aaron, greater
than Melchizedek, greater than Solomon, greater
than the temple. We are told not to throw pearls
before swine, but here we see the pearl of Christ
and his gospel being despised and trampled.
183
brothers, apostates, and unregenerate. They are get people focused on things other than morality.
historically but not eternally chosen. They are The Bible states that before Christ returns people
children of the devil. will view good as evil and evil as good. We see
pastors fulfilling that prophecy today. God did
Note the phrase in Hebrews 10:26: “after
warn in 2 Timothy 4:3 that people would not
receiving the knowledge of the truth,” meaning
endure sound doctrine so we should not be
after receiving the full revelation of the gospel,
surprised.
which Jesus Christ disclosed to us: “In the past
God spoke to our forefathers through the
One of the greatest areas of compromise is
prophets at many times and in various ways, but
the marriage between the church and politics. We
in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son”
have a responsibility for who we choose to be in
(Heb. 1:1-2). Christian apostates have received
leadership and God is not pleased when we
God’s final revelation in Jesus Christ and clearly
choose those who go against His word. How can
know his person and work. They hear the full
you say you are a Christian but walk into a voting
gospel, yet they reject God’s power unto salvation.
booth and select an individual who you know will
Throughout this epistle, the author warns against
pass laws that support abortion, same-sex
ignoring such knowledge: “We must pay more
marriage, and embryonic stem cell research?
careful attention, therefore, to what we have
Many Christians did just that and many pastors
heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the
led the way in voting for a president who will
message spoken by angels was binding, and every
bring a curse upon our nation. This is a clear
violation and disobedience received its just
example of the falling away that Apostle Paul
punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore
stated in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
such a great salvation? This salvation, which was
182 19
2. Entertainment
Another example of apostasy in the church
is found in entertainment. Many pastors promote
singing and praising with very little, if any,
teaching in between. The singing and praising
often contains styles that have been borrowed
from secular entertainment. Pastors continually
disgrace God’s house by mixing secular
entertainment with gospel.
I heard a minister once say, ”there is
worldliness in what the kids [step team] are
doing but at least they are in church and getting
the word”. That is one of the oldest tricks of satan.
Sin entered the world because he convinced Eve
to compromise. The Bible teaches that we are to
come out of the world when we join the body of
Christ, not merge worldly practices so as to draw
people in. God is the standard and He never
changes, if anyone comes to Him, it is that person
who must change.
20
Apostates sin deliberately,
defiantly, and daily. They walk out of light
into pitch darkness, and love it. John’s gospel
gives us the anatomy of such apostasy in the
example of Judas. An apostle who believed in
Jesus and experienced the Holy Spirit in some
measure, Judas preached the gospel, healed the
sick, and cast out demons. But John 13:2 tells us
that while the evening meal was being served,
“the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot,”
meaning he had come under the devil’s influence.
Verse 27 says the devil entered Judas, taking
complete control. In verse 30 we are told Judas
went out, leaving the holy communion, and John
writes, “And it was night.” Judas turned away
from the brightness of walking with Christ and
chose to walk with the devil.
John writes of such apostates, “They went
out from among us, but they did not really belong
to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would
have remained with us. But their going showed
that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19).
Such people can be leaders, teachers, and fellow
church members. But in reality, they are false
181
the present tense: “If we deliberately keep on
sinning.” Sin becomes one’s habit. We must
pause here to acknowledge that the Bible does
not teach sinless perfection in this life. True
Christians sin, but they do not do so defiantly and
continually. John writes, “If we claim to be
without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth
is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness . . . My dear
children, I write this to you so that you will not
sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who
speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ,
the righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for
our sins” (1 John 1:8-9; 2:1-2). Paul declares,
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who
are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch
yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Gal. 6:1).
We oppose the Novatianism of the third century
that said God does not forgive post-baptismal
sins.
180
One of the things that is destroying our
society is fornication. People are completely
throwing their futures away through fornication
but I rarely hear pastors preach about it and
stress all the harm that results from fornication.
How do I know so much fornication is going on
in the church? In some churches today, during
services, just count the number of kids present
that were born to unmarried parents…the
numbers are disturbing. And that count does not
even include the acts of fornication that produced
no children. It is destroying our lives but most
pastors don’t see the need to talk about it. Instead
they choose to entertain.
Much of this entertainment is doing
nothing but playing on people’s emotions. People
sing, shout, dance, and cry as they ride the
emotional high during church service. But when
they return home and come crashing down from
their “high”, they have no foundation to stand on.
As soon as temptation comes in the way of
21
fornication, drunkenness, violence, etc they fall
because they have not been taught anything at
church. So they drag through the week miserable
from sin and return to church the next Sunday.
They come to the altar with all emotions showing
due to their sins from the week and they are
looking for another “high” to make them feel
good. The same thing happens and it just
becomes a continuous cycle.
3. “Feel Good” Sermons (Fun Gospel)
“
For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -
2 Timothy 4:3-4
There is an epidemic of pastors preaching
about your harvest season, prosperity,
overcoming, and abundant life. These are all the
“feel good” things that many like to hear and
22
author is giving his logic for what he intimated
in verse 25. He was warning those who were
habitually neglecting the means of grace of public
worship and fellowship: “For if we deliberately
keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is
left.” In the Greek text, the first word is hekousiôs,
“deliberately.” The apostle is emphasizing that
these people were not sinning out of ignorance,
but defiantly, deliberately, knowingly, willingly,
and highhandedly.
Numbers 15 condemns deliberate
sinning: “But anyone who sins defiantly,
whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the
Lord, and that person must be cut off from his
people. Because he has despised the Lord’s word
and broken his commands, that person must
surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him (vv.
30-31).
Not only does such a person sin defiantly,
but he also sins daily. The Greek expression is in
179
 Professor John Frame’s view on apostasy
can be summarized as follows: Those who
are eternally chosen shall be historically chosen,
meaning they will be part of the church on earth.
Such people shall persevere to the end. But those
who are only historically chosen, including
children brought up in the church, shall not
persevere. Many in Israel were not eternally
chosen, and so they perished. This is also true in
the church age. Romans 8:29 declares: “For those
God foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those he predestined, he also called; those
he called, he also justified; those he justified, he
also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-30). In view of this,
let us examine two points from Hebrews 10:26-
31: apostasy and judgment.
ANATOMY OF APOSTASY
The first word of verse 26 in the English
translation should be “for,” not “if,” because the
178
pastors keep pushing the message. Of course God
can bless His people with these things but Jesus
also taught that we must be prepared to face
much persecution and hatred, ”Blessed are ye,
when men shall hate you, and when they shall
separate you from their company, and shall
reproach you, and cast out your name as evil,
for the Son of man’s sake” - Luke 6:22. You may
never become earthly rich in this world but if you
seek Jesus and His saving grace, you can attain
the greatest spiritual riches that are stored in His
kingdom. And you can enjoy those spiritual riches
while on this earth. The Christian walk is not an
easy one and as we get closer and closer to the
return of Jesus, things will become harder and
harder. That’s why Jesus said, ”But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” -
Matthew 24:13. If your pastor is constantly
teaching “feel good” messages, you should really
question his/her motives. Just like a parent that
truly loves their child will chastise them to make
them better in the long run, a pastor that truly
23
loves his flock will chastise his congregation from
time to time to assure they are on the right path
to heaven.
4. Lack of Sacredness
There was a time when people dressed with
decency to attend church. This was done in
reverence to God’s holy temple. Many people still
dress appropriately when entering God’s house
but many do not. I look around in church and I
see women wearing all types of revealing clothes.
They wear dresses, pants, and shirts that are the
norm on the night club scene. What has
happened to the church to cause women to want
to dress that way and think it is acceptable? There
was a time when if a woman was found that way
in church, some of the elders would pull her to
the side and explain why she should not dress
that way. But most churches just accept it and
move on even though this way of dress can cause
many distractions in service and hinder an
individual from receiving a message from God.
24
together as some are in the habit of doing” (Heb.
10:25). When we do not feel like going to church,
we have a very serious problem and may be on
the verge of apostasy.
Clinging to mindless traditions can
also lead to apostasy. No matter what our
religious background, when we hear the gospel,
we must reject traditions that do not lead to
salvation, and we must commit ourselves to
following Christ. New wine cannot be contained
in the old wineskins of mindless traditionalism.
How do we know if we are falling away?
Professor Gerald Hawthorne writes, “There is no
objective evidence that one who has made his
Christian confession and has been baptized is
indeed a Christian, other than the daily
perseverance in love and good works, that is, a
persistence in the very essence of what his
confession implies”
177
Father but from the world. The world and its
desires pass away, but the man who does the will
of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Another reason for apostasy is false
teachers in the church. Jesus said, “Many
false prophets will appear and deceive many
people” (Matt. 24:11). Paul wrote, “For the time
will come when men will not put up with sound
doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they
will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to
hear” (2 Tim. 4:3). How many church people
today want only to hear pleasant things and be
entertained! But false teaching leads to apostasy.
A fourth reason is neglect of the
means of grace. The Hebrews writer asks,
“How shall we escape if we neglect such a great
salvation?” (Heb. 2:3). Neglect of the means of
grace means neglect of God’s word, prayer,
fellowship, and worship. In the same epistle, the
author cautions, “Let us not neglect meeting
176
And the men are not excluded from this
either. I see guys come in with baggy jeans 4 sizes
too big hanging down, wearing sunglasses, do-
rags, etc. The state of the church is deteriorating
and many pastors do not express the need to
correct these things. God’s house is sacred and
should always be approached that way.
5. Lack of Prophecy Teaching
A HUGE void in the church today is lack of
end time prophecy teaching. This void was
actually my inspiration to start this book. So
many prophecies have been fulfilled that indicate
the return of Christ is very near but many
churches do not teach them. Therefore, many
people will be caught off-guard when Jesus
returns. I cannot recall ever hearing a sermon
preached from the book of Revelation at any
service in which I was physically present.
Whether pastors do not understand prophecy or
think they will scare people, this void needs to be
filled. Jesus told the apostles that an indication
25
of his soon return would be when you see the ”fig
tree blossom”. The blossoming fig tree was
the parable used to represent the Jewish return
to their promised land and regain control of
Jerusalem. Israel officially became a nation again
in 1948, ”This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
When I gather the people of Israel from the
nations where they have been scattered, I will
show myself holy among them in the sight of the
nations. Then they will live in their own land,
which I gave to my servant Jacob” - Ezekiel
28:25. ”Verily I say unto you, This generation
shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” -
Matthew 24:34. Since the nation of Israel was
re-established in 1948 and the Jews reclaimed
Jerusalem in 1967, we are the generation that
shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled. Jesus
gave a clear warning of what to look for but sadly
these things are not taught in many churches and
many are walking blindly.
26
to be persecuted and put to death, and you will
be hated by all nations because of me. At that
time, many will turn away from the faith and will
betray and hate each other” (Matt. 24:9-10).
Jesus calls such people “rocky soil,” because they
turn away from the gospel when trouble comes
(Matt. 13:20-21).
The second reason for apostasy is
worldliness. Paul writes, “Demas, because he
loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10).
Jesus speaks about “thorny soil” Christians, who
become apostate because of the worries of life,
the pleasures of sin, and the deceitfulness of
riches (Matt. 13:22). Worldliness can creep into
us, especially in a society such as ours, where we
are constantly faced with the idea that more is
always better. The apostle John warns, “Do not
love the world or anything in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For everything in the world-the cravings of
sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting
of what he has and does-comes not from the
175
covenant curse of everlasting destruction. The
bottom of hell is reserved, not for pagans, but for
those professing Christians who abandoned the
gospel and became enemies of Christ and his
cross.
God judges us according to the knowledge
we have. The greater our knowledge, the greater
our responsibility and the greater our
punishment if we apostasize. Jesus himself laid
down this principle in Luke 12:47-48: “That
servant who knows his master’s will and does not
get ready or does not do what his master wants
will be beaten with many blows. But the one who
does not know and does things deserving
punishment will be beaten with few blows.”
REASONS FOR APOSTASY
The Bible gives us a number of reasons for
this deliberate turning away from the living God.
The first is persecution, as Jesus
himself warned: “Then you will be handed over
174
Conclusion
In concluding, the Bible warns there will
be apostasy in the church in the end therefore
Christians should not get discouraged. We find
hope and joy in the soon return of our Savior
Jesus Christ. Until then, we pray for the Peace of
Jerusalem, Blessings to the great nation of Israel
and to the only wise God, be glory through Jesus
Christ forever. Amen.
Hebrews 6:8–12 suggests three things we
should look out for. First, we should look for the
presence of “thorns and briars” (v. 8). Here
Hebrews echoes the words of our Lord in the
Parable of the Soils. In some soils (hearts) the
good seed of the Word is planted and seems to
take root. But in fact the soil is infested with
weeds that strangle the fruit of the good seed.
“The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of
riches, and the desires for other things entering
in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful”
(Mark 4:19 NKJV).
27
 Second, we should look for the absence
of “things that [always] accompany salvation” (v.
9). What are these “things”? They are, surely, the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–24). Paul
interestingly contrasts verbally the fruit of the
Spirit with the works of the flesh. These marks of
grace are the natural outcome of regeneration.
Furthermore, the cross has a central place in such
a life, for “those who are Christ’s have crucified
the flesh with its passions” (Gal. 5:24 NKJV).
The third thing is perhaps the most
alarming: The failure to show “diligence” and a
tendency to become “sluggish” (vv. 11–12).
Earlier the writer had warned how easy it is just
to “drift away” (Heb. 2:1). But this drifting
happens slowly, and it often goes unnoticed.
Yes, apostasy happens. Sometimes the
catalyst is flagrant sin. The pain of conviction and
repentance is refused, and the only alternative
to it is wholesale rejection of Christ. But
28
two concentric circles: those who are eternally
chosen and truly regenerate, and those who may
have made credible confessions of faith, but are
not true believers. In due time, the feet of those
in the latter group shall slip and they shall prove
themselves to be unregenerate apostates.
We find examples of apostates in both the
Old and New Testaments. Saul, the first king of
Israel, became an apostate, as did Judas, one of
the twelve apostles. Hebrews 3 and 4 describes
the apostasy of the Israelites in the wilderness.
Though God had promised them rest, the
majority of them did not enter into it “because of
their unbelief.” The author warns, “See to it,
brothers, that none of you has a sinful and
unbelieving heart that turns away from the living
God” (Heb. 3:12). In Hebrews 6:4-6 the author
declares about such people, “It is impossible, if
they fall away, to be brought back to repentance
because, to their loss, they are crucifying the Son
of God all over again and subjecting him to public
disgrace.” Apostates must experience the
173
 CHAPTER FIFTEEN sometimes the catalyst is a thorn growing quietly
in the heart, an indifference to the way of the
FINAL WARNING AND JUDGEMENT
AGAINST APOSTASY
cross, a drifting that is not reversed by the
knowledge of biblical warnings.

Hebrews 10:26-31 speaks about apostasy.

So perhaps a personal health check is in
It is a warning, not to pagans, but to those in the
order. And today would be the wisest time to do it.
church. In one sense, only those who claim to be
God’s people can become apostate. Aposteinai in
Greek means to “stand away from.” Apostasy,
therefore, means to stand away from Christ and
his gospel and to stand opposed to the living God.

WHO IS AN APOSTATE?
An apostate is one who may have heard and
believed the gospel and even experienced the
power of the Holy Spirit in his life in a non-
regenerative way. Yet, in due time, he turns
against the gospel and becomes an enemy of
Jesus Christ.

There is the potential for apostasy in every

church of God. We can picture church people as

172 29
 CHAPTER FOUR
TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL
Many sincere religious people have been
mistakenly led to believe that it is
utterly impossible for a child of God to fall from
the grace of God.
The Swiss reformer, John Calvin,
popularized this notion. It has found its way into
numerous theological creeds of today’s world.
The Bible, however, does not teach this
dangerous doctrine. In fact, Holy Scripture
contradicts it repeatedly.
Both Old and New Testaments speak of
potential and actual apostasy among the people
of God. To the northern kingdom of Israel, Hosea,
on behalf of Jehovah, exclaimed: “My people are
bent on turning away from me, and though
they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise
them up at all” (Hos. 11:7; ESV). Moses had
warned Israel of the possibility of their forgetting
30
others to you will speak negatively about
you to somebody!”
21. A leader/Christian who does not respect
the vision, philosophy, standards and
procedures of your ministry. 1 Chron 15:13
22. A leader/Christian with a “Jezebelic”
spouse. 1 Kings 21:7
23. A leader/Christian who is against
spending money on head. John 12:5. When
it is time to appreciate their head they do
not participate.
24. Leader/Christian who is unduly quiet,
reserved, detached from others. That
silence speaks volumes
25. A leader/Christian who constantly is in
meetings with your opposing forces.
CHRISTIANS AND LEADERS: Be as
harmless as a dove BUT be as wise as a
serpent.
171
13. Leaders/Christians who have been long in
the ministry and feel they have seen it all.
14. Leaders/Christians with persistently
stormy marriage 1 Tim 3:4
15. Leaders/Christians who take offense when
they are corrected. They are irritated,
reactionary, very defensive, give excuses
and continually justify themselves all the
time. Ecc 4:13
16. Lies and makes false promises Psalm 15:4.
17.A leader/Christian who does not enjoy
when you minister, does not take notes Jer
1:8, Rev 21:5
18. A leader/Christian who does not tithe or
give...is a robber. Mal 3:8
19. A leader/Christian who supports those
making wrong moves in church and rebels
1 Kgs 1:7
20. A leader/Christian who comes to you with
negative news ONLY about others.
“Someone who speaks negatively about
170
the Lord and the wonderful signs he had
performed in the wilderness (Dt. 8:11-14; 4:9).
The noble prophet Ezekiel declared:
“When a righteous person turns
away from his righteousness and does injustice,
he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has
done he shall die” (Ezek. 18:26).
The Old Testament record is literally filled
with examples of apostasy on the part of
God’s covenant people. In First Corinthians 10,
Paul catalogs a number of these instances.
The New Testament also contains an
abundance of evidence on the possibility of
apostasy. Observe the following.
It is possible to fall
Jesus taught there some would receive the
word with joy and believe for a while, but in a
time of testing would fall away (Lk. 8:13). He
announced that some branches — disciples —
would be pruned from Him — as the vine — and
be burned (Jn. 15:1-6).
31
Some did fall
Judas certainly did fall (Acts 1:25) and he
was lost (Jn. 17:12). Many other disciples
abandoned the Lord as well (Jn. 6:66).
Hymenaeus and Philetus erred concerning the
truth, and by their error, overthrew the
faith of others (2 Tim. 2:16-18). Some forsook
Christianity, reverted to Judaism, and in so
doing fell away (Heb. 6:4-6).
The church in Ephesus, which had been
saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9; cf. Acts
19:1-7), left its first love, and so fell, and was in
danger of being wholly disowned by Christ (Rev.
2:4-5; 1:20). It was prophesied, in fact, that before
the return of Christ to judge the world, a great
apostasy from the faith would occur (2 Thes. 2:1-
12; cf. 1 Tim. 4:1ff; 2 Tim. 4:1).
It is possible to prevent falling
We must be aware that we can fall (i.e.:
“take heed” — 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12; Col. 2:8).
But there is a way to prevent such from
happening. We must apply the divine remedy to
32
6. Leaders/Christians who are proud,
thinking they can do what you do better 2
Sam 15:4
7. Leaders/Christians prepared to attack their
own father/mother or senior leader. 2 Sam
16:11
8. Leaders/Christians who do not respect
your spouse. They say that you, not your
spouse is called.
9. Wounded leaders/Christians who never
worked their way out of bitterness 2 Sam
13:22
10. Leaders/Christians who feel they know it
all hence do not show up for training or
retraining. “What more does he have to say,
I know what he teaches!”
11. Leaders/Christians not prepared to do
menial jobs Luke 22:27, Matthew 18:3
12. Leaders/Christians who aim at positions
more than that the work is done. 1 Kings
1:5
169
1. A leader/Christian who disappoints you in
times of pressure, disgrace or crisis. Crisis
brings out a person’s real character. Acts
15:38
2. Leaders/christians who disappoint you
when they are under pressure. Pastors
preach every Sunday yet many times they
are under pressure. Prov 25:19
3. Leaders/Christians with moral
weaknesses. These wait for the day you
discipline them and they attack you for
having “more girlfriend” than them!
4. Leaders/Christians with financial
weaknesses. Remember Judas had a
weakness in money. Some rebel for
money’s sake. John 12:6
5. Leaders/Christians who are worldly like
Demas. All their sources of inspiration are
from outside Godly things and church. 2
Tim 4:10
168
keep ourselves in the most holy faith and from
apostasy.
Note Peter’s admonition regarding the
adding of the Christian graces and his
conclusions: “for if you do these things, you
shall never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:5-11). So also
Jude’s warning in Jude 20-21. Spiritual security
is conditional.
One can be restored from apostasy
When Simon committed the sin of
attempting to buy the gift of God with money and
was in danger of perishing, Peter urged him
to repent and pray for forgiveness (Acts
8:20-22). James speaks to this point:
“My brethren, if any among you err from the
truth, and one convert him; let him know, that
he who converts a sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death, and shall
cover a multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:19-20).
33
Why Saints Depart from the Faith
Yes, a Christian can apostatize. We know this is
true because of what the scriptures teach. We
know of this danger because we have seen
children of God fall.
In the balance of this article, we will explore
a few of the reasons why some saints depart
from the faith.
Some Fall Away Because of Persecution
In the parable of the sower, Christ spoke
of the rocky soil. This was a thin layer of earth
with a bedrock underneath. When the seed [the
word of God] was sown in such soil, it sprang up
quickly. But because it had no depth, when the
sun came out, the seed soon died.
The Lord, in explaining the story, revealed
that the shallow soil represents the one who
“endures for a while; and when tribulation and
persecution arise because of the word,
straightway he stumbles” (Mt. 13:21).
Unfortunately, when some people obey the
34
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
APOSTASY AND DISLOYALTY
In a true church today, one virtue that is a
binding factor for members as well as leaders is
loyalty. But this is rare to find today even in the
most Bible believing of churches worldwide.
While many may not see it, disloyal Christians
are apostate. Quite often they manifest character
pertaining to both vices.
“While all prove beneficial,” attests world-
renowned pastor, author and evangelist Dag
Heward-Mills, “the sometimes surprising, yet
critical component is loyalty”—that permeating
attitude of faithfulness and authenticity which
stands as “the very foundation of discipleship.”
From the above assertion, we can see that
disloyalty is a very serious problem even for the
best of ministries. Apostasy and disloyalty have
common symptoms. Here are some of the
manifestations;
167
ability. That journey may take us to different
cities, states, countries, and sometimes different
churches. The difficulty is discerning God’s will
in these circumstances versus our own. If the
Spirit’s leading is the reason for transitioning to
a new church, seek the counsel of other believers
as a way of testing. When the Spirit of God set
apart Paul and Barnabas to leave Antioch on a
church planting journey, the whole church
affirmed that this was, in fact, God’s leading.
166
gospel they have an improper view of
Christianity.
Perhaps they see only its more pleasant
elements. Maybe they have not been taught to
count the cost (Lk. 14:28). They have not really
recognized that “all that would live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
And so, when the hardships of the Christian
life come, they do not endure.
For some, persecutions provide the testing
by which character is made (Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-
7). In others, tribulations expose a weakness
which becomes the downfall of that person.
Some Fall When They Experience Natural
Disaster
We live in a world that has been cursed by
the evil effects of sin (Gen. 3:16ff; Rom. 5:12;
8:20ff). Earthquakes, violent storms, and floods
frequently occur. The ravages of cancer, heart
disease, etc., invade our homes. Death steals our
35
parents, spouses, and children. The Christian is
no less a victim of these misfortunes than anyone
else.
Yet, occasionally one encounters a child of
God who feels that if the Lord were really caring
for his interests, such disasters would never
come.
This, of course, reveals an inadequate and
unbalanced view of life. One of the great lessons
of the book of Job is that Jehovah does not
necessarily shield us from life’s calamities. In fact,
Paul was not exempt from natural disaster (cf.
Acts 27; 2 Cor. 11:25-27).
And so, natural hardships will occur. We
are not in heaven yet! We must never allow such
difficulties to turn us from the faith. Instead, we
must use all trials to fortify our heavenward
journey.
Many Apostatize Out of Neglect
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that
we simply cannot escape the wrath of God if
36
it may be time to look for another church. If your
church leadership, however, humbly commits
themselves to the teaching of the Bible and they
meet the Biblical qualifications, there is still much
hope for the future of the church.
#3 The Spirit’s Leading for Great
Commission Fulfillment
In my own quiet time this morning, I read Acts
16:7 where the Spirit of Jesus would not allow
Paul to go to a particular place, and then
redirected his path to fulfill the great commission
in a different region entirely. We cannot rule out
the real and active role of the Holy Spirit’s
leadership for the fulfillment of the Great
Commission in our lives. There may be occasions
where God leads, prompts, stirs, and guides his
people to leave their current church family to go
do the work of disciple-making in another region
with another church family. We have one life to
live and we are to spend it glorifying God by
making disciples of all nations to the best of our
165
commitment to God’s word can often lead to
church health in other areas, but if the word is
not taught, all is lost.
#2 Disqualified Leadership
Pastors must meet particular qualifications
in order to serve in that role. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus
1:5-9) These qualifications do not mean that
pastors must be perfect men, but they do suggest
that they should be characterized by Christ-
likeness. A church that affirms and supports
Biblically unqualified leaders is a church that will
always struggle to fulfill God’s will. The Bible
commands us in Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your
leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping
watch over your souls, as those who will have
to give an account. Let them do this with joy and
not with groaning, for that would be of no
advantage to you.” If it is impossible for you to
obey this Biblical command because of the sin of
your leaders, and those leaders are
unapproachable with the apparent issues, then
164
we neglect the great salvation that has been so
richly provided for us (Heb. 2:3).
Some apparently enter the church under
the delusion that they have a ticket to heaven
which can never be canceled. They do not realize
that they are but babes in Christ and thus in need
of much growth and maturity (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet.
3:18).
To assist such people, the following
principles must be taught constantly:
Church worship services must be faithfully
attended in order that warm encouragement and
competent instruction be regularly received
(Heb. 10:24-25).
Harmful entanglements with the world
must be severed (1 Cor. 15:33; Eph. 5:11; 2 Tim.
2:4).
Personal habits of study, meditation, and
prayer must be cultivated (2 Tim. 2:15; Psa. 1:2;
1 Thes. 5:17).
Active involvement in the salvation of
others is commanded (Jn. 15:1ff; Rom. 7:4).
37
Many who would never neglect their physical
health (i.e., they diet, jog, etc.), or the welfare of
their families (i.e., house, food, medical
treatment, insurance) are, nonetheless, woefully
neglectful of their salvation. And so, they
frequently they drift away from the faith
completely. How very tragic!
Cares, Riches, and Pleasure Are the
Downfall of Many
Again, in his sower parable, the Lord spoke
of those who were fruitless because their
productivity was choked out by the thorns of the
“cares of the world,” the “deceitfulness of riches,”
and the “pleasures of this life” (Mt. 13:22; Lk.
8:14).
The cares of the world is the inordinate
anxiety that Christians sometimes have
concerning the daily needs of human existence.
Even poverty can be a temptation (cf. Prov. 30:8).
If one’s possessions are extremely meager, he still
must trust God and never allow worry about
material things to draw him away from Christ
(see Mt. 6:25-34).
38
deny, corrupt, or neglect any core Christian
doctrines (the gospel, inspiration of Scripture,
person and work of Jesus, repentance of sin,
etc.)? Is the obvious goal of regular teaching in
the church to expose the truth of Scripture? Is
the Bible the obvious source of truth or could it
be argued that the opinion, perspective, and
creativity of the leadership is the real authority?
Do you leave the public teaching time having just
studied the word of God in the Bible, or do you
leave with general principles of morality and
world news grounded only in the opinion of the
preacher?
Paul warns Timothy, ”For the time is
coming when people will not endure sound
teaching, but having itching ears they will
accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their
own passions, and will turn away from listening
to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim.
4:3-4) This is the inevitable wandering of sinful
humanity without an unwavering commitment
to the Bible taught each week. The righ
163
 CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GOOD REASONS FOR LEAVING A CHURCH
#1 Unbiblical Preaching
It is through the living word of God that
we are born again. (1 Pt. 1:23) Faith comes from
hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Rom. 10:17) Christians are taught, reproved,
corrected, trained, completed, and equipped only
through the teaching of the Scriptures (2 Tim.
3:16) and pastors have been commanded by God
to teach the word. (Acts 20:28-32; 1 Tim. 3:2;
4:11-16; 5:17; 2 Tim. 1:13-14; 2:2, 15-16; 4:1-5; Tit.
1:9; 2:1) If the word of God is not taught in a
church, then it may be time to leave that
church. The tricky part is discerning what counts
for the word being taught. We are not talking
about communication style or gifting. We are
talking about the goal and content of teaching.
Perhaps a couple of questions would help
clarify. Does the teaching ministry of the church
162
On the other hand, some, who have plenty
already, are ever greedy for more. Bigger barns
must be built (Lk. 12:16-21). A love of money
leads many from the faith (1 Tim. 6:10). The
destruction of others is a lust for the world.
Some members of the church are never
weaned from the defilement of an evil society.
Their minds are never transformed (Rom. 12:2).
Accordingly, the lure of the wild side of life entices
them away from the Lord and back into the filth
of a degrading existence (2 Pet. 2:20-22).
Demas is a classic example of one who
abandoned the noble life in exchange for this
world (Philem. 24; Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10).
Some Are Seduced Away from the Faith
by False Teaching
Paul foretold that in the latter times some
would fall away from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits (i.e., false teachers — 1 Jn.
4:1). They would turn away from the truth unto
fables (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:1).
39
Why do men become involved in the propagation You need us. We need each other. Take Heed less
of religious error? you fall.

Honest people are sometimes ignorantly

caught up in it. That is why Christians must take
heed how they hear (Lk 8:18) and compare what
they hear with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). The
Lord charged that the errors of the Sadducees
were attributed to their ignorance of the word of
God (Mt. 22:29).

Others adopt false doctrines for baser

reasons. Perhaps they are anxious for a following
(Acts 20:30). Maybe they feel that godliness is a
way of gain (1 Tim. 6:5; cf. 2 Pet. 2:1). Some
preachers are declaring that the church of the
Lord is not distinctive and unique — just another
denomination among many. They no longer
proclaim the biblical truth of the one body (Eph.
4:4), the church (Col. 1:18).

As a consequence of pulpit perversion,

numerous deceived souls are being led into the
entrapments of sectarianism. Faithful Christians
must attempt to inoculate against this great evil.
40 161
 church is the change you need in yourself. I
know. It’s happened to me more than once. After
all, the Gospel is about change. From darkness
to light, from death to life, from sin to salvation.
And sometimes, from stubborn to teachable. This
may not be your time to change churches. It may
be your time to let Jesus use your church to
change you.
#10 You’re Giving Up On Church Entirely
If you’re planning to leave your current church
to stop attending church altogether, please
reconsider this very dangerous step.
Very few decisions are more likely to cause long-
term spiritual damage than leaving the church.
Even for a little while. Because a little while
almost always becomes a very long time.
Even deciding to ‘see what’s out there’ in other
churches can be a dangerous practice. Church-
shopping can become church-hopping, which
easily leads to church-stopping. Christianity was
never meant to be lived in isolation. We need you.
160
Some Have an Unrealistic View of
Conversion
When one obeys the Gospel of God (1 Pet.
4:17), he enters the Christian life as a spiritual
newborn — an infant in the Lord (1 Pet. 2:2). He
must endeavor to grow in the grace and
knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), and thus
progress towards maturity (Eph. 4:13).
Occasionally, however, one encounters new
Christians who have mistakenly believe that
conversion virtually eliminates the capacity to
further make mistakes. Accordingly, when they
again make some bad mistakes, they are deeply
crushed. They may be unable to cope with the
situation, hence throw up their hands in despair
and abandon the faith altogether.
Such souls must be taught a realistic view
of the Christian life! They must learn that even
great Bible characters sometimes made serious
errors (Mt. 26:70; Rom. 7:15; Gal. 2:11-14). But
through repentance and learning, great growth
can be achieved.
41
Some Fall Due to the Lack of Christian
Association
Conversion to the Son of God frequently
extracts a high price in terms of human
friendships. Jesus said that it would be so (Mt.
10:34; Phil. 5:7-8).
Since it is true that the Christian must have
no fellowship with the evil works of darkness
(Eph. 5:11), and as it is further the case that
intimate companionships with unspiritual
companions can be a detriment to the Lord’s
servant (1 Cor. 15:33), many times friendship with
the ungodly will be broken at the point of
conversion.
Now here is a blunt question. Are
Christians careful to speedily replace, with warm
fellowship, those worldly associations that have
been severed?
Sometimes we are seriously neglectful of
this responsibility. We bring the lost to Christ and
then freeze them to death! Undoubtedly this is
42
and more. Buildings need to be upgraded, new
songs should be introduced, clothing styles
fluctuate, demographics shift. And more. Some
people hit the brakes on every change, good or
bad. If you have that tendency, you need to resist
the temptation to assume that a change is bad
just because it’s uncomfortable for you. If the
leadership of your church is changing things
before you think they should, they’re probably
being proactive instead of reactive. That’s good
leadership. Society is changing around us. Fast.
If your church leaders are trying new ways to
meet the needs of a shifting society, don’t fight
them. Help out.
#9 You’re Hindering the Health, Unity or
Growth of the Church
I know this was listed above as a good reason to
leave the church. But not always. Before you
change churches, ask yourself if what really needs
changing is you. Before you change churches, ask
yourself if what really needs changing is you. You
may discover that the change you feared in the
159
you to be involved, but hasn‘t found the right fit
yet, keep trying.
I’ve known people to stay at our church for years
before we finally found the right fit at just the
right time. They were always glad they waited.
#7 Someone Hurt Your Feelings
If you leave your current church over hurt
feelings, you’ll leave your next church for the
same reason. People are people. Feelings get hurt.
Sometimes we’re too sensitive, sometimes the
hurts are real. Either way, the solution isn’t
leaving, it’s reconciliation. Or growing thicker
skin.
Leaving a good church because one or two people
offended you, only to go to another church where
one or two people will offend you is not a
solution.
#8 The Church Is Changing
Every church needs to change. Not core theology.
But methods, demographics, leadership styles
158
one of the major reasons for the high mortality
rate among new converts.
Some Apostatize Due to Harsh Treatment
by Crude Brethren
No one, who is remotely acquainted with
New Testament doctrine, would deny for a
moment that false teaching, together with
rebellious, hypocritical brethren, ought to be
vigorously opposed (Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3:10; 2 Tim.
4:1ff; etc.). The Lord’s treatment of His brethren
(the Jewish leaders) in Matthew 23 was blistering
— the situation demanded it.
This certainly does not indicate, however,
that all spiritual weakness is to be dealt with in
such a manner.
Some brethren have apparently concluded,
though, (compare Diotrephes, 3 Jn. 9-10) that
they have been deputized by the Lord to billy-
club all immature children of God into perfection!
A new Christian may, through ignorance
or weakness commit a tragic sin, and yet before
43
they can be lovingly and patiently restored (Gal.
6:1), they are bludgeoned to spiritual death by
some insensitive zealot. They did not anticipate
this type of “brotherly” treatment and hence
cannot survive it. Child abuse is not just
a physical phenomenon!
Some Never Learn to Receive Considerate
Correction
As was pointed out above, all children of God are
bound to make mistakes. At times, we all need
loving correction.
There is that type of person, however, who simply
cannot abide rebuke, no matter how
compassionately it may be offered.
Doubtless, pride is a chief weakness in such an
individual.
Solomon noted that “a rebuke enters deeper into
one that hath understanding than a hundred
stripes into a fool” (Prov. 17:10). Correction is a
natural expression of love (Prov. 3:11-12), and
44
If you’re a mature believer who isn’t being
fed, don’t look for another church. Pick up a spoon
and feed yourself. If you’re a mature believer who
isn’t being fed, don’t look for another church. Pick
up a spoon and feed yourself. Then start serving
and feeding others. The church is not a
marketplace where we pick the spiritual products
we like. The church is a community that worships
Jesus together. A family that cares for each other.
And a team that goes out to bless others in Jesus’
name. People don’t become giants of the faith by
hearing better sermons. They do so by drawing
closer to Jesus and living better lives as a result.
#6 You Haven’t Found the Right Place to
Serve
One of the good reasons to leave your
church (see above) was if the only thing they want
from you is a warm body and an offering.
But before you do that, be sure that’s really
what’s going on. If the church leadership wants
157
As we grow spiritually, the amount we can take
in from others – even from great sermons and
programs – diminishes until we do one thing:
start serving.
Expecting to grow spiritually by attending
church but not participating is like expecting to
get physically healthy by eating better but not
getting off the couch. In both 1 Corinthians 3 and
Hebrews 5 we read about immature believers
who wanted more “milk”, even though they
should have been ready for “solid food” (some
translations use the word “meat”). Often, church
members will leave a church because they want
meatier sermons. But, while sermons can always
be better, I don’t believe we can ever get spiritual
meat from sermons. Just milk. What makes
something milk is that it’s been through the cow.
Someone else has eaten it, chewed it, processed
it and fed it to you. Meat is something we have to
chew on. It requires our work and participation.
156
when it is well received, it produces peaceable
fruit (Heb. 12:11).
Some Never Learn to Deal with Church
Problems
When some enter the church, they labor under
the delusion that they are in heaven already!
It is a tremendous shock when these tender saints
learn that not everyone in the Lord’s church is
honest and good. They are not prepared for the
reality that, as one preacher put it, some of the
people in our fellowship ought to be in the
penitentiary!
When they observe conflict in the church — or if
they are treated in an unbecoming way by
brethren — rather than attempting to assist the
situation for the sake of righteousness,
occasionally a sense of smugness sets in. An aura
of self-righteousness may develop.
It is sometimes the case that church members,
such as these described, will withdraw from the
church in general and establish their own little
45
antiseptic fellowships — usually a so-called
“house church” — wherein they can from afar
crucify the church for her shortcomings or
imagine that they are the last faithful people on
earth.
But our Lord knew that there would be
difficulties in the kingdom. Consider the parable
of the tares (Mt. 13). Paul had his enemies, even
within the church (2 Cor. 11:26), yet he did not
sour on the entire brotherhood.
Faithful children of God will look for ways
to help their brethren in times of confusion. They
will not bury their heads. The old proverb about
lighting a candle instead of merely cursing the
darkness still contains a lot of truth.
Some Fall Because of Misplaced
Confidence
A proverb says: “Confidence in an
unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken
tooth, and a foot out of joint” (Prov. 25:19).
46
address those reasons. But if the only issue you
have with the church is its small size, that’s not a
reason to leave.
On the opposite side of the church size coin
are people who leave because the church is
getting ‘too big’ for them. I may be a small church
guy, but I don’t believe a church can get too big.
Yes, some churches do unhealthy things to get
big. But other churches do unhealthy things that
keep them small. Either way, the problem is ill-
health, not size. The path to Heaven is narrow
not big. It might be small but it’s the Apple of
God’s eye amongst churches. Let size not be a
factor of apostasy.
The size of the church is never a valid
reason to leave a good church.
#5 You’re Not Being Fed
There’s only so much growth we can receive
as passive church consumers.
155
playground kind of children’s ministry is not
always and automatically better for a family’s
discipleship. It is primarily the family’s
responsibility to disciple their children and
teenagers and to teach them the importance of
the local church beyond the once a week program.
Transferring to another church so that
discipleship of children and teenagers can be
more fully outsourced to the paid professionals
of the larger church should not be the primary
consideration for leaving one place and joining
another.
#4 Because It’s Small (Or Getting ‘Too
Big’)
Many of us have bought into the myth that,
if a church is not growing numerically, it must be
broken. If the ‘problem’ with your church is that
it’s not getting bigger, I have good news for you.
Small is not a problem. Is it possible that the
church’s lack of growth is a sign of deeper
problems? Of course. If so, the church needs to
154
It is never easy when we are disappointed by
those we love and in whom we have great
confidence.
Perhaps some are so cynical that they will
not allow themselves to trust anyone. An opposite
inclination, equally extreme, is to see everyone,
especially those in the church, as virtually angelic.
Often Christians will make a superhero of
some prominent leader, elder, or preacher. They
will idealize that person to the point of near
perfection. If the hero falls, it can destroy the faith
of the one who so admired him.
I know of a number of situations in which
weak brethren have fallen from the faith because
a favorite preacher was discovered in adultery or
perhaps a respected elder was exposed as a
crooked businessman.
It certainly is not sinful to have great
respect and confidence in good brethren. But in
the final analysis, one’s trust must be in God
Almighty and in His Son, Jesus Christ! They will
47
never do wrong. They will never disappoint us
(Heb. 13:5).
Conclusion
Surely, it is to the advantage of all of us to learn
those areas of weakness which can precipitate
apostasy.
None of us is beyond the possibility of falling (1
Cor. 10:12). We must be diligent to fortify our
souls against failing the grace of God. And we
must learn to reciprocate in assisting each other
on the road to heaven.
48
not saying by any means to stay at a church where
unrepentant sin is approved of, ignored, or
celebrated. But, if you are noticing spiritual
apathy, lovelessness, and faithlessness
surrounding you on a Sunday morning, don’t let
your first thought be to jump ship. Let your first
thought be – I’ve got to make disciples. Pour
yourself out for the spiritual growth of those
around you. ”Let us not grow weary of doing
good, for in due season we will reap, if we do
not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let
us do good to everyone, and especially to those
who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:9-10)
#3 Better Programming
One of the newer developments in our
cultural and historical context is the expectation
on churches to perform certain programmatic
services. This is especially true with regard to
children and youth. Parents should, of course,
consider their families in choosing what church
to join, but the bigger, more colorful, indoor-
153
in America must especially be aware of our
cultural conditioning. We can find ourselves
looking at the church through a consumeristic
lens rather than a Biblical one. Choosing church
membership has to be different than choosing a
gym membership. We shouldn’t choose to leave
or join another church based off of best services
provided for the least monthly cost.
#2 Spiritual Immaturity in the Church
Members
Every church has at least one thing in
common – people are involved. Since every
church has people involved, it follows that every
church will have sinners involved. No matter
what church you go to there will be a variety of
spiritual maturity among the members. There
will always be potential for relational conflict and
disagreement. The church is, in fact, a communal
participation in one another’s sanctification
process. If you run at the first sign of human
sinfulness, you will always be on the run. I am
152
CHAPTER FIVE
THE CHURCH: YESTERDAY AND TODAY
THE CHURCH
The Christian Church is the assembly or
association of followers of Jesus Christ. In the
New Testament the church is referred to as
“church” basically meaning “assembly”. It
appears in two verses of the canonical Gospel of
Matthew, 24 verses of the Acts of Apostles, 58
verses of the letters of Paul the Apostle, 2 of
the Letter of the Hebrews, 1 of the Epistle of
James, 3 of the Third Epistle of John and 19 of
the Book of Revelation.
There are four traditional notes of the
Christian Church and they include unity,
holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. (McKim,
1996) In the phenomenological sense, there
are many associations that call themselves
Christian churches. In New Testament the term
is used for local communities and in a universal
sense to mean all believers. Traditionally, only
49
orthodox believers are considered part of the true
Church, but convictions of what is orthodox vary.
(Harper, 2001)
Church Yesterday
The early Church originated in Roman
Judea in the first century AD, founded on the
teachings of Jesus, Son of God and Christ the
Messiah. It is usually thought of as beginning
with Jesus’ Apostles. According to scripture,
Jesus commanded them to spread his teachings
to the entire world. Springing out of the first
century Jewish faith, from Christianity’s earliest
days, Christians accepted non-Jews (Gentiles)
without requiring them to fully adopt Jewish
customs (such as circumcision) the parallels in
the Jewish faith are the Proselytes, God fearers,
and Noahide Law. Some think that conflict with
Jewish religious authorities quickly led to the
expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues
in Jerusalem.
50
Bad Reasons for Church Prostitution:
#1 Entertainment Value
Few people say outright that they are
leaving their church based off of entertainment
value. They usually say something more like, “the
Sunday worship is dead” or “I am just not getting
fed.” These phrases can represent legitimate
concerns which we will address in a moment, but
they can also stand for a me-centeredness (self-
centredness) that we want to avoid. When
someone says they are not being fed they might
mean, “I want a church with a more dynamic and
entertaining communicator, but my pastor is just
an average public speaker.” By “dead worship”,
they might simply mean an older style of worship.
It is a stylistic preference judged by personal
enjoyment more than it is a spiritual assessment
of God’s enjoyment of the worship. If God is only
pleased with stage lights and electric guitars then
he has been awaiting truly alive worshippers for
thousands of years up until the modern era. We
151
another, and fulfill the great commission
together. Choosing to transition to a new church,
therefore, affects an entire community, not just
an individual. I don’t encourage or entice
Christians to transfer their commitment to our
church, unless there is Biblical reasoning. As
pastors, it should not be our aim to attract more
Christians to move to our church as if our church
is the only church “doing things right.” I praise
God that we are not the only Gospel believing,
Bible preaching, corporate witness of the Lord
Jesus in our city. Sheep swapping is not great
commission progress. But there are scenarios
where transitioning to a new church may be good,
right, and honoring to the Lord. Here is a simple
and non-exhaustive list of a few good and bad
reasons for transitioning to a new church.
150
The Church of Yesterday” was overflowing
with strength and dedication to serve God. Then,
there seemed to be a better desire for the word
of God, and a better desire for The Lord. The
apostles preached about Jesus in a way that will
make an unbeliever believe that indeed Jesus is
truly the son of God and then there preaching
changed the lives of so many people. Souls were
been worn for God and people preached not out
of the doctorate degree in divinity but out of the
spirit of God. There were chosen to preach, not
forced to preach. They simply preached JESUS
and allowed the Holy Spirit to convict the heart
of the hearer of sin whereby they repented and
accepted the gift of salvation through their
acceptance of Him. The church yesterday
showed love by word and by deed. Genuine
miracles happened. We say water turning into
wine but today, preachers and prophet fake
miracles, some are paid to stay in wheel chair
and rise and stand during church services as sign
of miracle. The church yesterday was best with
51
spiritual wealth but what we see today is
different. They seek after ungodly wealth, they
are not concerned about there spiritual growth
any more as long as they can buy themselves a
private jet.
The church yesterday was lead by Christ,
today who leads the church? Most churches are
led by the devil himself with gays standing on
the pulpits preaching, church worker stealing
money from offering bag, married pastors
having sexual relationship with a brethren
sister. Some pastors even support abortion.
Recently in Nigeria, a well-known church joined
a man who is still married with his wife in
holy matrimony with another woman who
apparently is a local actress in Nigeria. The
church was a united body yesterday. Today,
pastors in the same church fight over power and
money. Christians worshiped God in godly
manners but today people worship God half
naked. You go to church and in your presence, a
brethren sister wants to share your husband with
you. Today’s church has failed to teach the truth
52
CHAPTER TWELVE
APOSTASY AND CHURCH PROSTITUTION
Bad Reasons for Moving Churches
No church is perfect. Your church is
imperfect because it is full of imperfect people –
you and I included. Every church member,
therefore, must endure difficulties and persevere
through problems. But, when is it time to leave?
For what reason is it appropriate to end your
commitment to one church and make a
commitment to another? Pastor, what is your
counsel when someone comes to you wrestling
with whether they should leave their current
church to join yours? These are questions we all
face at some point in our life together as God’s
people.
Firstly, we must agree that commitment to
a local body of believers is a serious thing.
Churches are spiritual families covenanted
together to serve one another, care for one
149
 This is how to survive and thrive in the
apostasy. The joy of the Lord and the hope of
eternity are able to keep one from becoming
spiritually satisfied. In the Old Testament, when
the children of Israel came into Egypt, they were
placed in the land of Goshen. When the plagues
came in Egypt in the time of Moses there was
prosperity in Goshen. There was darkness in
Egypt that could be felt, but in Goshen there was
light. There was death in Egypt, but in Goshen
there was life. Today Christians are living in an
old Egypt culture, but it is possible to be Goshen
Christians in the midst of an Egypt culture.
The solution to apostasy is not isolation.
The solution to live in an apostate culture is not
isolation. The solution is insulation from culture
for the purpose of infiltration in culture. The
apostates are not the only ones infiltrating.
Believers are doing some infiltrating of our own.
We are going over there into an Egypt culture to
capture some people for the gospel and we are
bringing them into the land of Goshen.
148
and that is why all sort of sin is seen in the church
today. It’s so sad to note that some of the worst
and cruel being like secret cult members call
themselves Christians and go to church.
Church Today
Today’s church is now scattered and
disorganized. I have wondered if the true church
Christ actually created still exit in this recent
times. Teachings have fallen apart and in general
today’s church is in a bad shape. The question is
“Is God in today’s church? Are the preachers
telling the truth or are they telling the people
exactly what they want to hear? (2 Timothy
4:3-4). Most things taught by Christ are not
taught in today’s church. It is evident in our
churches today as divorce has reached its peak.
The divorce rate within the church has not only
equaled but surpassed that of the world. It seems
to me that every little thing that goes wrong is a
reason for divorce in our modern society.
53
 Nude churches now exit in our presence
just as we have ongoing nude clubs and bars. It
is unbelievable when I find women going to
church almost completely naked in the name of
fashion. In Nigeria, where there exist the most
churches as well as other African countries, it’s no
news for a man to step into church with his four
wives and as long as he donates money regularly,
he will be used as good examples to other church
member. Sometimes they are given roles in
church like counselor, chairman, etc. Now tell
me, what’s this kind of person going to teach
couples? Where’s the truth? All these are done
all in the name of liberty, however, it seems like
Christians of nowadays has failed to remember
that in his word, God gave us liberty, but then
He added, “Do not allow your liberty to cause
you to sin.”
In today’s church, we have so-called
churches of God that are sanctifying and
performing same sex marriages; queer to queer,
lesbian to lesbian. Many of the Church are
preaching:
54
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think.” The Lord is able to keep us from
stumbling before a fall.
The Lord is able “to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy” (vs. 24). In this verse there is a Greek word
loaded with meaning. Some have translated it,
“He will present you before the presence of the
Lord with mighty shouts of joy.”[3] When I get to
heaven Jesus is never going to hear the last of it.
I am going to spend eternity praising Jesus. The
next verse follows with a great doxological
statement, “To the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.” Here Jude mentions God’s
splendor, greatness, sovereignty, and authority.
Finally, look to what A.T. Robertson claims is “as
complete a statement of eternity as can be made
in human language.”[4] The praise offered to the
Lord is past, present, and future. This is praising
him forever and forever.
147
The ultimate solution to apostasy is proximity
to him. Stay close to him and keep preaching him.
We do this also knowing that he is able. The text
presents this in the present tense. It does not say
he was able, nor is it in the future tense. Jude is
saying, “He is able.” Whatever the need is today,
God is able.
What needs exist today? Some say, “Well,
I need grace.” Second Corinthians 9:8 says, “God
is able to make all grace abound toward you.”
Some say, “Well, I am going through some
temptation.” Look to Hebrews 2:18: “He is able
to aid those who are tempted.” Still others say,
“Well, I need salvation.” Consider Hebrews 7:25:
“He is also able to save to the uttermost those
who come to God through Him.” Some may say
they need confidence in the faith, 2 Timothy 1:12
says, “I know whom I have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have
committed to Him until that Day.” Then there is
a passage that seems to cover everything,
Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do
146
a) Christianity without Christ
b) Forgiveness without repentance
c) Salvation without regeneration
d) Heaven without Hell
Did Jesus the founder of Christianity ever
think us this way? I have never read in the Bible
were it is said that men can now marry men and
women marry women. To show the extent of
deformity in Churches, not only do member turn
homosexual but the preachers and prophets. The
teachings of yesterday are no longer valued in
some churches today. It’s sad to say the majority
of churches have now deviated from the truth.
Let me give you example of the church
today. In African, the church has now become a
limited liability company. This is no joke. Almost
all churches now own their own nursery,
primary, secondary and university institutions.
You may be thinking this no big deal but it is
because even their members pay through their
nose to attend their schools. In a country were
55
poverty has ruined the lives of millions of people,
the average school fees of a primary school child
in these church school is three thousand dollars
per term. Why can’t these schools do? There,
members are favoured by reducing the fees to
the minimum after all, the schools are build out
of the offerings of this same members?
Conclusion
There is clear difference between the
church of yesterday and the church of today. The
church of yesterday was based on truth, purity
and holiness; this is now hard to find in today’s
church. Over in Cameroon or elsewhere, there
are far more people behind the pulpit that have
no right to be there than there are those who have
truly been called by God and do have the right
to be there. The pulpits of our churches are filled
with men and women who are involved in all
manner of immorality and perversity; those who
are involved in adultery, those who defraud their
congregations, stealing money from their own
56
became attached to the place and called himself
a chaplain, but in coming so close to the
defilement in the ministry around him he soon
became defiled himself.
There is a teaching today that says that the
way to win the world is to be like the world. The
truth is that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
has had the most influence on the world when it
was the least like the world. Win some who are
in defilement, “hating even the garment spotted
by the flesh.” So, what Jude is saying is, Do not
let the apostasy surprise you; the Bible said it was
coming. Do not let the apostasy stop you. Keep
on loving the Lord; keep on loving the lost.
Do Not Let the Apostasy Stifle You
Finally, do not let apostasy stifle you. The
end of Jude provides relief from the previous
content in perhaps the most beautiful doxology
in all of the pages of the New Testament, “Now
unto him that is able to keep you from falling.”
145
by the flesh,” literally means human excrement.
It is as if Jude is saying, “Some people you have
mercy on, you m, but they are m defilement. Their
inner life is so corrupt and filthy that it has
corrupted their outer life and it is dangerous to
touch them.”
In response to the Ebola outbreak people
would wrap themselves up and insulate
themselves in such a way to not be infected or
defiled by the virus. The same thing is true in the
spiritual realm. There are some people who are
in defilement and they need to be witnessed to,
and need to be won to Christ, but there needs to
be great caution to avoid personal defilement.
When I was at New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary, there was a student who
was an evangelist. He used to give his report in
chapel of the great crusades he was having and
the hundreds of people who were coming to know
Christ as Savior. He began to minister in the
French Quarter around Bourbon Street. He
144
church, and those who are preaching false and
demonic doctrines. In all honesty, most so-called
‘Christians’ have never fulfilled the scriptures as
it was taught yesterday.
Today’s church needs to go back and read
the scriptures and act according to the biblical
scripture, they should learn the right things. You
can’t teach what you don’t know. Let them
embrace the vitality and commitment of
spreading the words of the lord. Most
especially, pastors should allow the spirit to lead
them into the profession rather than studying
for it. The doctrine of Christ should be strictly
adhered to in churches so that God can be
present in there mist. Twisting what’s in the
bible to benefit your own interest will invite
Satan into the house of God. The government
and society has a role to play in how today
church can be amended to be like the church of
yesterday. Churches reported to be into criminal
acts like surrendering all your properties before
gaining salvation, should be dealt with under the
57
criminal law. Society should stop looking for
churches with miracles, prophesies and magic
rather they should seek a church that preaches
the truth, a church that care about the welfare
of its members.
Apostasy at the inception of the
Christian church.
The Christian Church is universal, cutting
across all the regions of the earth and racial
barriers in keeping with Christ’s directives (Acts
1:8). At the end of His (Christ’s) earthly ministry,
Jesus commissioned His apostles to lead the
Church (Matt. 20:18-20; John 20: 21-22;
17:18-19).The apostles affirmed all the
principles left to them by Christ to the last of
Christ’s disciple, John (the beloved). We can see
how the apostles resisted apostasy, many times
to the point of sacrificing their lives: Simon Peter
was crucified in Rome; James (the elder) was
beheaded by Herod in A.D. (Acts 12:1-2);
Andrew was crucified on St. Andrews cross;
58
On Sunday mornings when I was a little
boy, one of the things I would do is get up and
run out in the front yard to get the Sunday
newspaper. I would run back into the house to
read through the sports and comics. On one
particular day, a picture on the front page of that
paper caught my attention. It was the picture of
people leaping out of windows. The front page
had a picture of the burning of the Winecoff Hotel
in Atlanta on Peachtree Street, it was the worst
fire we had ever known in history in a hotel.
Grown men came to windows and jumped to their
death. Mothers took their babies and tossed them
out of windows in an attempt to get them out of
the fire. God has a message that will get people
out of the fire. Stay in love with love with Jesus.
Stay in love with those who are lost and nearest
to hell.
Jude uses the pronoun a third time, “and
to others have mercy . . . hating even the garment
spotted by the flesh.” “Garment” refers to the
inner garment, the ÷éôùìá. The word for “spotted
143
mercy making a difference”). There are precious
souls in the world that are just in doubt. They
are weak and perhaps have been influenced by
apostate teaching. They do not know true
doctrine because no one has explained it to them.
This passage helps believers see that there is an
opportunity in the world to witness to those who
are in doubt.
There are a lot of lost people who could be
won like that. We are to love those who are in
doubt.
Second, we are to love those that are in
danger. In verse 23 we find the same relative
pronoun, “and others save with fear, pulling them
out of the fir.” There are many who are in danger.
I used to listen to the evangelist, Oliver B. Green,
every day to close his show he would say, “Lord,
save the soul that is nearest hell.” Hell is real and
there are people who do not know Jesus Christ
whose feet are almost in the fire. It is the job of
Christians to pull them out of the fire.
142
Matthew and Mathias were martyred in
Ethiopia; Saul (Paul) was beheaded in Rome and
many others (Thompson 1984:1565). These
men stood firm against all forms of apostasy
in the Christian Church and yet, in their
ministry, evidence abounds that apostasy was
not an uncommon phenomenon.
Towards the end of the apostolic era, the
apostles foresaw the impending apostasy in the
Christian Church and warned against it.
Accordingly, Paul warns Timothy, “guard what
has been entrusted to your care, turn away from
godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what
is falsely called knowledge, which some have
professed and in so doing have wondered
(apostatised) away from the faith” (1Tim. 6:20-
21).,
Furthermore, he warns the Ephesian
elders that apostasy would arise from within the
Church (Acts 20:29-30) and also reminded the
Thessalonians of the pending apostasy before
the second coming of Christ (2Thess. 2:3-4).
59
Apostasy during the Ministry f Paul to
the churches in Galatians
The way Paul deals with the Churches in
Galatia explains how apostasy, if not recognised
and dealt with quickly, can spread throughout
the whole Christian Church. Within two or three
years of Paul’s mission to Asia Minor, many
professed Christians had renounced the gospel
(Gal. 1:6-12; 3:1-5). Paul informs Timothy that
“everyone in the province of Asia has deserted
me” (2 Tim. 1:15). Although one may not find
evidence that everyone in Galatia deserted Paul,
it is the view of the researcher that the majority
of the church members had or were in the
process of apostatising. In this regard, six of the
seven Churches in Asia were also warned by John
against apostasy (Rev. 2-3)
Galatians, Bereans and today’s church
The Galatians were also not like the
“Bereans who were of a more noble character
than the Thessalonians, for they received the
60
I’mma looking for him to come tomorrow.” If you
want to stay in love with Jesus, just keep your
mind and heart on the fact that one of these days
soon, and very soon, Jesus Christ is going to come
again.
What Jude is saying here is, if you want to
survive and thrive in the apostasy, first, do not
let the apostasy surprise you, and second, do not
let the apostasy stop you. We must keep on loving
the Lord. However, there is something else he
tells you to keep on doing, notice verses 22-23.
In those verses there is a relative pronoun
translated as “some” and is translated “others.”
The word ïõò is a plural pronoun that is a
structure word providing the flow and logic of the
language. Jude is saying, “Do not stop loving the
Lord,” but he is also saying, “Do not stop loving
the lost.” In this he provides three categories of
lost people that Christians are to seek to win.
Notice, first, verse 22, “and of some have
compassion” (a better translation would be “have
141
building ourselves up, studying the Bible, and by
praying.
Then, the third participle in verse 21,
“looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.” The best way in the world to
stay in love with Jesus is to be looking for Jesus
to come any day. We must expect that Jesus will
return any day. I believe in the return of the Lord
Jesus Christ. One of the things that really gets
me excited when I recognize that we are in the
days of the apostasy is that the Bible is clear that
apostasy will occur right before the re- turn of
the Lord Jesus Christ. “Lift up your heads. Your
redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). Some
golden daybreak Jesus will come. I had an old
step-grandmother, my real grandmother
Johnson died before I was born, my grandfather,
a country evangelist/preacher, married Aunt
Callie. Aunt Callie was an uneducated woman,
but she had a real walk with the Lord. Aunt Cal-
lie used to put it this way, “l’mma looking for
Jesus to come today, but if he doesn’t come today,
140
message with great eagerness and examined the
scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was
true” (Acts 17:11). White (in, Acts of the Apostles
1970:150) maintains that the minds of the
Bereans were not narrowed by prejudice. They
studied the Bible, not out of curiosity, but, in
order that they might learn what had been
written concerning the promised Messiah. If
church members are not well informed with
regard to the Church doctrines and do not check
if what is practised in the Church is in line with
the Biblical doctrine, they can fall prey to the
wrong teaching. It is to be established whether
or not the present church members experience
similar causes of apostasy in churches in Africa.
The views of the Judaizers may be
indications that even today many churches may
fall prey to some ideologies, traditions and
customs, which some people believe are still
binding for their salvation. The situation of the
Galatians is a difficult one and is shared by many
new Christians today. There are some converts
61
who cannot remain firm to their faith when
internal church conflicts break out, such as that
of the Judaizers and Paul. Both parties had
extensive knowledge of scripture and the
functions of the Church, but the Galatians did
not search the scriptures to defend their faith.
However, Paul was surprised by the sudden
change of the Galatians from what he had
taught them to supporting another gospel, which
Paul asserts is really no gospel at all (Gal. 1:7).
The conflict in the Galatians Church reflects
another cause of apostasy, the one that takes
advantage of new converts who have not
grounded themselves in the doctrines.
62
us. To help us stay in the love of God, we must
constantly be building ourselves up in the
Scriptures.
The second participle is, “praying in the
Holy Spirit” (vs. 20). Bible reading and prayer
complement each other. When we read the Bible,
God talks to us; when we pray, we talk to God.
Some might think this means the gift of tongues,
but it does not have a thing to do with tongues.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps
our infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered.” That literally means groanings which
you cannot put into words. Have you ever been
there? Have you ever had a burden on your heart,
a need in your life so great that when you got to
your prayer altar all you could do is just groan
and say, “Oh Holy Spirit groan over me?” It takes
a lot of prayer in days of apostasy. We need to
keep ourselves in the love of God and we do it by
139
the faith and build ourselves up in our most holy
faith. It is imperative for believers to read and
study God’s Word.
The Bible is a love letter. Imagine a girl
receiving a love letter from her boyfriend. She
goes to the mailbox and immediately notices the
handwriting and the scent of an envelope that it
was from her boyfriend. She would not return to
the house and say, “Mom, I got a love letter from
my boyfriend and I am going to put it up here on
the mantle, and on Christmas Eve we are going
to get down the letter and we are all going to
gather around and I am going to read it.” This is
rather unlikely. What probably would happen is
that the girl would run back into the house,
saying, “Oooh, mama mama mama, I got a love
letter.” Then she would run to her room, fall
across the bed, and tear open the envelope to read
it, perhaps even placing it later under her pillow
to be read again. God has written a love letter to
us. Every day we ought to read that love letter.
God wants us to know how very much he loves
138
CHAPTER SIX
WHAT CAUSES APOSTASY?
In today’s churches, just as in the Judean
or Galatian era, facies serious apostasy. Some of
the causes which involve internal as well external
or doctrinal are the reasons Christianity is slowly
falling to meet the standards laid by the Prophets,
Jesus and the Apostles. These include;
Internal causes of apostasy
- Personal clashes between members often
results in one or both parties apostatizing.
- Failure to be elected to positions aspired
for by members in church sometimes leads
to apostasy.
- Electing people to positions for which they
are not competent to perform, results in
disappointment, causing people to give up
their faith.
- Resentment regarding disciplinary action
meted in terms of church policy, due to the
63
 poor and unprofessional approach towards
the offenders, causes apostasy.
- Failure to have one’s expectations met, for
example, not being assisted materially or
financially and getting no sympathy from
members in desperate times of need,
causes apostasy.
- Too much gossiping and criticism among
church members reduces the spirit of
fellowship; hence this causes apostasy.
- Intense dislike of those elected to positions
of local church leadership creates
unnecessary conflict, which often leads to
apostasy.
- Delays in resolving disciplinary cases often
lead to apostasy.
- The absence of church counselling leaves
a lot to be desired, many cases leading to
apostasy could have been prevented by the
provision of such a service.
64
imperative, “keep yourselves.” He says first of all,
“building up yourselves on your most holy
faith…keep yourselves in the love of God.” This
means that in days of apostasy, keep in love with
Jesus Christ. One of the ways to accomplish this
is to keep studying the Bible. One of the major
reasons people fall into false doctrine is an
ignorance of the Bible. Paul said in Acts 20:32,
“Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the
word of his grace, which is able to build you up.”
Bible study and daily Bible reading is spiritual
weight lifting and spiritual food. I read some time
ago that there are some dogs who can do without
food for nine days. I read that there are some
birds that can do without food for twenty days. I
read that there were turtles that could without
food for five hundred days. I read that there were
some snakes that could do without food for eight
hundred days. I read that there were even some
fish that could do without food for one thousand
days. But we cannot do without the Word of God
for a solid week if we are going to stay strong in
137
 There is also a kind of keeping that
believers do that is mentioned in verse 21: “Keep
yourselves in the love of God.” Now putting this
in a Georgia-country English, what he is saying
is “Scrooch up real close and stay in love with
Jesus,” or “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
Whether you stay close to the Lord or not, his
love remains and never changes. His love is like
the sun; it is constantly shining. Whether you are
directly in the atmosphere and warmth of the sun
or not the sun continues to shine. When the
prodigal son left his father’s house, his father did
not stop loving him (Luke 15:11-24). When the
son removed himself he also moved from the
warmth, affection, and the love of his father. The
good news is that we can do what the prodigal
did. The prodigal said, “I will arise and go to my
father” (vs. 18). Christians, we ought to keep
ourselves in the love of God.
How do you keep yourself in the love of
God? Jude answers this question by using three
present tense participles in relation to this aorist
136
- Offenders receive little or no tolerance; very
few if any offenders are forgiven by the
church, hence, some members think trying
to put matters right is a waste of time as a
result of such feelings, apostasy becomes
the only alternative.
- New members are not given enough time
to adjust to a new Christian lifestyle, some
fail to adjust and apostatize.
- Choice of a church and apostasy:
Many people choose to belong to a church
without studying its doctrines and cannot
tell if the church is scripturally based or not.
Christians today need to read the scriptures
as did the Bereans (Acts 17:10, 11) in order
that they support or defend their faith when
conflicts affect the Church. Martin Luther)
states, “I have seen Satan tear apart
Churches with conflict too many times. I
have seen him (Satan) bring strife and
dissension into the most peaceful
Churches.”
65
External causes of apostasy
- Associating with unbelievers in activities
that do not enhance spirituality causes
apostasy.
- Associating with members of other
denominations or church sectors whose moral
behaviour is not an important factor in their
churches, lead to apostasy.
- Adhering to cultures with beliefs and
practices that are not in harmony with those
of the Bible believing churches causes
apostasy.
- Continually breaking the Sabbath and not
frequently attending Church services due to
social attractions often lead to apostasy.
- Involvement in worldly politics to a point
where church principles are compromised
causes apostasy.
- Premarital sex and cohabitation
66
then act as the spiritual surgeon protecting the
health of the body of Christ by removing the
infiltrated cancer with the surgical tool of the
Word of God. Slowly and carefully the intrusion
into the body of Christ will be cut out. This task,
however, is not the main concern; pastors and
their congregations must continue obeying what
God has commanded.
The leading verb in this section of Jude is
found at the beginning of verse 21: “Keep
yourselves in the love of God.” That is the second
imperative in Jude. Jude liked the word “keep.”
He uses it five times with one synonym. There is
a two part keeping in Jude: one that God does
and one that believers do. Verse 1 states we are
“preserved in Jesus Christ.” This is the same word
as in verse 21, we are kept in Jesus Christ.
Believers do not have to keep themselves saved,
for God is the one who keeps them. Also notice
verse 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you
from falling.” It is God who does that kind of
keeping.
135
Jude also uses the word “sensual,” (øõ÷éêïé)
denoting that they live on a worldly level. The
apostates believe that they live on a level above
what the ordinary experience and thus the
normal rules do not apply to them. Jude further
defines them as those “having not the Spirit,”
which makes it very clear that the apostates are
not believers. So the first encouragement Jude
provides is, “Do not let apostasy surprise you.”
Do Not Let the Apostasy Stop You
In the concern for apostasy and the
departure of the faith it is easy to become hostile
and bitter. Jude begins with an appeal to contend
earnestly for the faith. However, contending for
the faith does not mean to be contentious in
defending the faith. Apostasy should not stall the
work of the church.
For those who are pastors, Jude presents
the pastoral task clearly as spiritual surgeons.
Pastors will biopsy a problem when it occurs and
134
Doctrinal causes of apostasy
- Baptizing people before they are taught all
the doctrines and policies of the Church,
causes some people to lose their faith when
they discover that they accepted baptism
ignorant of the expectations of the Church. For
example, one may accept Christ after listening
to two or few more sermons and is baptised.
The Church may later learn that his/her
private life is contrary to the Church doctrines
and policies, following which the person is
then removed from the church membership
record and is considered an apostate, yet the
two sermons may not have covered all the
doctrines and policies to help the new converts
make good decisions regarding their baptism.
- Inconsistence in upholding the Ten
Commandments causes apostasy. For
example, most emphasis is on only three of
the Ten Commandments, namely, the keeping
of the Sabbath day (Saturday) holy; not
67
 committing adultery and not stealing, thereby
causing apostasy.
- Adherence to church polices and laws more
than the scriptures, leading some members
to apostasy.
Other causes linked to the internal or external
as well as doctrinal involve;
1) There is serious competition between the
different denominations regarding
membership, because churches have
become commercial enterprises. It has
become evident that church owners or
organisations depend financially on church
contributions as their sources of income.
2) A lack of love and care in times of need
causes apostasy. A high percentage of
people in Africa are poor and come to
church with the hope of receiving comfort
and material help particularly in times of
need, such as illness, or when death occurs
68
That Word of God has been canonized in the
pages of the Bible. This is the only Bible that there
will ever be and any talk of “a new revelation,” or
“a special word from the Lord “should be ignored.
If it is new it is not true; if it is true it is not new.
Jude says remember. “Remember I told
you so when these things hap-pen, you and I
should not be surprised about it.” Christians
should be aware of the fact that the Bible
predicted that those days would come. Jude
mentions them in verse 19, “they . . . separate
themselves.” Literally, apostates draw boundary
lines. They come in under the radar in a local
church and begin to draw lines developing what
they call a spiritual elite. The elite are a group of
individuals who are the only ones in the
congregation who really are intelligent enough
to understand their teaching. As a result,
apostates split churches, separate believers, and
sometimes even separate family members.
“They…separate themselves.”
133
would come, “and many false prophets shall rise
and shall deceive any”(Matt 24:11). The Apostle
Paul predicted apostasy (Acts 20:30). “Also of
your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them.” Peter mentions the apostasy as well, “But
there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet 2:1).
So Jude says, “Do not let it surprise you; it has
already been predicted.”
This section presents an interesting insight
into the written Word of God, briefly notice that
it is the Apostles who have spoken. These
Apostles gave oral testimony before their
testimony was recorded. In the conclusion of
Jude a reference is made back to verse 2; the faith
delivered is the full final, and finished revelation
of God. The prophets have already spoken. The
Apostles have already given the Word of God.
132
in a family. Accordingly, people who move
from one church to another, do so in search
of churches that usually provide a lot of
material assistance to their members.
3) The failure of ministers to live according
to what they preach causes apostasy.
Accordingly, there are two problems,
namely dishonesty in financial matters and
the immorality of many ministers that
cause many members to lose their faith in
Jesus.
4) Ministers who betray the values underlying
the doctrine they preach cause apostasy.
For example, a minister who preaches good
Christian family behaviour and values and
yet destroys the marriages of the members
causes apostasy.
5) Doctrinal differences cause apostasy. The
Orthodox and the Pentecostal churches
differ in terms of their emphasis on
doctrines yet, both use the same Bible,
69
 some people end up doubting the Bible
itself, hence, they lose their faith in Jesus
Christ.
6) Corruption causes apostasy. The
conditions leading to the struggle for
human survival in Africa make it difficult
for many Christians to live a faithful life;
hence, some give up their faith for a corrupt
and immoral life.
7) Most apostates lacked a doctrinal
understanding of God. They put God in
court and judged Him in terms of their
successes and failures, that is, if they failed
where they thought God should have
helped them to succeed, God was judged
as a failure and replaced by another power
of their choice or they just gave up their
faith.
8) Another cause of apostasy was that some
Christians saw God through the lives of
other people, if their heroes of faith
70
apostasy. In the second sermon he uses three Old
Testament Bible characters to illustrate that God
not only judges apostasy nationally, but he also
judges apostate individually. These two sermons
are some of the most withering, devastating
descnpt1ons to be read in literature concerning
the terrible detrimental effects of apostasy and
apostates on the local church. thee was no final
section to Jude, if verse 16 was where he put his
amen and 1t was all over, the letter may be
depressing. However, the seventeenth verse says,
“But, beloved, remember,” and presents the first
imperative in the entire book of Jude. So what I
want to do is to discuss how to survive and thrive
in days of apostasy.
Do Not Let the Apostasy Surprise You
Notice again verse 17, he said, “Beloved,
remember.” Jude has said all these things have
been spoken before by the Apostles. Not only by
the Apostles, but also spoken by the Lord Jesus
Christ. Jesus predicted that a time of apostasy
131
heterosexual marriage) is a “gift to the world.”
Oprah responded, “Well, when is the church
going to get that?” The preacher then said, “We
think it’s inevitable and we’re moments away. I
think our culture is already there and the church
will continue to be even more irrelevant when it
quotes letters from 2000 years ago as their best
defense.”[2] Notice what this preacher has done.
He has not only departed from the faith morally,
but he has also departed from the faith
doctrinally. He is claiming that the Word of God
is not applicable, nor sufficient, for the day in
which we live. This is a classic indication, or
picture, of apostasy.
After the introduction of Jude, the second
division describes apostasy. In doing so we see
that Jude is an excellent preacher. Those who say
that the New Testament authors did not expound
the Scriptures only reveal their ignorance. In the
middle section of his letter Jude preaches two
sermons. In the first sermon he uses three
historical events to illustrate how God judges
130
deviated (apostatized) from their faith, they
also lost their faith (apostatized).
9) The minister who criticized other ministers
when preaching also caused apostasy.
10) The differences between the Christian
Churches cause apostasy. For example,
Christians who wish to change from one
Christian denomination to another are
rebaptised as a sign that their former faith
is void, yet continue to worship the same
Jesus Christ.
From the above causes, The
Implications of Apostasy include the
following but are not limited to them;
i) Apostasy reduces church membership.
ii) Apostasy creates discomfort and
disappointment among friends and family
members of the apostate.
iii) The criticisms of those who have
apostatized, compromise the Church’s
ability to recruit new converts.
71
iv) Apostasy reflects a poor image of the
Church to the unbelievers or non- church
members.
v) Apostasy has a significant implication
regarding tithing and the offerings made
by members.
faith that was literally once-for-all delivered to
the saints. This admonition is offered because of
apostasy, which is defined in verse 4. He says that
these certain men who slip in through the side
door, who worm their way in, will turn the grace
of God into lasciviousness, and they will deny our
Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. There you
have the two components of apostasy. Some
people misunderstand and think that apostasy
only has to do with false doctrine. But if you will
notice Jude’s words, there is not only a doctrinal
component but also a moral component. Lifestyle
changes that do not conform to the teachings of
the Bible will result in doctrinal changes. The
opposite is true as well, doctrinal changes will
lead to lifestyle changes.

Jude did not mention the current apostates

in his day by name. The only apostates he
mentioned were those who were already dead. I
will do the same and follow Jude’s example.
Recently a preacher at the Church of Oprah said
that marriage (referring to both homosexual and
72 129
Lord Jesus Christ in our day than the book of
Jude.
There are three great divisions in the book
of Jude. First of all, verses 1-4 provide words of
exhortation and define apostasy. Second, verses
5-16 present words of exposition and a
description of apostasy. Finally, verses 17- 24
provide more exhortation and a plan to defeat
apostasy.
Notice in the opening words of
introduction, “there are certain men crept in
unawares” (Jude 4). The particular word used
literally means to slip in through the side door.
It is the picture of an alligator stealthily slipping
into the water almost unnoticed. It is the picture
of an exiled criminal who slips back into the
country from which he is exiled. Jude says that
there will be certain individuals who will slip in
unawares. He says they are ungodly men who will
depart from the faith. In the previous verse Jude
states that we are to contend earnestly for the
128
CHAPTER SEVEN
TODAY CHURCH APOSTASY
Apostasy has taken over the church
and Christians today.
Apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is
a rebellion against truth.
Types of Apostasy
Apostasy includes two types;
1. Those who have knowingly turned
completely from Jesus Christ and no longer
even pretend to be Christians; and
2. Those who still claim to be Christians but
have departed from the faith (the great
faith).
The latter (2) can be divided in to several areas;
a. Those Christians who have taken the world
and mixed it with the church resulting to weak
(little) or no faith in Jesus Christ.
73
b. Those who have deliberately twisted the
scriptures perverting the word of God to
fit their circumstances and pursue what
they want to. This include the Christians,
the teachers, the pastors and all men of God
who are searching for share of power, fame
and money; scoffers preaching what people
want to hear so not to offend any one.
c. The naive, who are genuinely deceived by
false men of Satan dressed in sheep clothes.
Paul was dealing much on the apostasy in the
early church; the correction of false doctrine and
practice that was already in the early church in
the days of the apostles.
Apostasy End Time sign
The bible points at the apostasy in (2)
above to be a sign of the last days, the End Time.
And yes, here we are.
74
problems to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Around us there is a culture which is filled with
anarchy, but the problem is not so much the
anarchy in the culture, rather it is that which
occurs inside the church.
One of those problems is apathy. The Lord
Jesus Christ said “Because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many will wax cold” (Matt 24:12). I
heard about two church members who were
talking one day and one of them said to the other,
“Have you heard that they say that the two big
problems in the church today are ignorance and
apathy?” And the other said “I did not know and
I do not care.” There are problems of apathy.
The other problem that the churches are
dealing with internally is apostasy. It is a Trojan
Horse that makes its way into the body of Christ.
The Spirit of God led Jude to write his letter as a
survival manual for those who would be living in
days of apostasy. I do not know of a book that is
more applicable and relevant to the church of the
127
apostasy in the body of Christ. This is terrorism
in the physical body.
Christianity, however, is dealing with a
terrorism that is more serious than the one I have
mentioned. The Bible talks about spiritual
terrorism: the infiltration of false doctrine and
false teachers into the body of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is referred to as apostasy. The word
“apostasy” does not occur in the Bible, but rather
it is a transliteration from a few verses. In 1
Timothy 4:1, it says in the latter times, some shall
depart from the faith.”[1] The verb is the word
from which apostasy is transliterated. In 2
Thessalonians 2:3 the text says that the coming
of the Lord will not happen “except there be a
falling away first,” Apostasy is departure from the
teachings of the Bible and an apostate is a person
who believes and teaches the doctrine of
apostasy.
We are dealing today with a world that is
changing, a world that is introducing new
126
When Jesus was asked by His
disciples, ‘What shall be the sign of thy coming,
and of the end of the world (Mt 24:3)‘. The first
words were apostasy.
In His response, He emphasized religious
deception three times and He specified what it
would involve:
Take heed that no man deceive you. For
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many. And many false prophets
shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall
arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders; insomuch that if
it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(Mt 24:4-5, 11, 24)
Jude puts it straight and clear.
The first reason we must ‘earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered to the
saints‘ was the fact that ‘there are certain men
crept in [inside the church] unawares ungodly
men turning the grace of our God into
75
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God,
and our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Jude 1:3-4)
These ungodly men are inside the church
today, perverting and twisting each and every
doctrine of Christianity and deceiving many. We
have to be careful and expose them so that our
faith and the faith of others might not be swayed.
If there is indeed an apostasy occurring in
the Christian Church, we would not know it
unless we first examined the Bible (the truth) and
then compared the Church to the Word of God.
It is only after truth is established that we would
have a measuring rod by which apostasy can be
detected.
76
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN
THE APOSTASY
One of the most-watched and most-
popular shows on television in recent years has
been 24. This is a show concerned with terrorist
infiltration into virtually every area of the U. S.
Government. The show’s protagonist is Jack
Bauer, an anti-terrorist agent, who is constantly
thwarting the efforts of all in his path. One of the
reasons this program has so gripped the psyche
of the American people is because it is dealing
with things that are all-together possible. The
infiltration of terrorism is a great concern.
Personally, I have encountered an
infiltration of a different kind. ly, Like a cancerous
cell in one’s body,medical doctors called it an
infiltrative cell, which means that it had
infiltrated my skin to a deeper level so to is
125
They produce holiness, with which you will be CHAPTER EIGHT
able to see him on that day. Straighten out your
WARNING SIGNS OF PERSONAL APOSTASY
drooping hands and weak knees. Receive the
grace that comes to you. Run the race, finish the
race, be holy, and you shall see the Lord! I. Loss of Appetite for God’s Word

a. like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of

the word… 1Pe 2:2

b. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by

the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

c. No PERSONAL Bible study, only spoon feed

by SS teacher or Preacher.

i. You are NOT going to grow spiritually by ONLY

being fed by others

ii. Bothered by Biblical challenges to live

according to the Word

iii. Feel you know all you need to know

II. Loss of Desire for Prayer

a. Pray without ceasing 1Th 5:17

124 77
i. Doesn’t mean “24/7” but to have attitude of
prayer
b. Prayer is more than cries in time of distress
and “thank you’s” before meals
c. In the early morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a
secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35
d. Real Prayer Life Is Hard Work! “The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Jas 5:16
III. Loss of Desire to Assemble with the
Saints
a. “Going to church because I have to”
b. Day by day continuing with one mind in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together with
gladness and sincerity of heart, (Acts 2:46)
c. One of the most visible signs (to others) of
falling away
78
Like Demas, they abandon Paul and Jesus for the
good things of this present world. Jesus asked,
“What does it profit if you gain the whole world
and lose your soul?” The rich young ruler was
miserable, yet he chose his wealth instead of
Jesus and the eternal life he came to give.
Watch out, therefore, for secularists like
Esau and do not be like them. They reject God
and are rejected by God. Incapable of true,
authentic repentance, they are pigs who trample
underfoot the pearl of the gospel. They are to be
put out of the church before they destroy it.
Be vigilant, brothers and sisters. Be full of
the holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. Do not
become apostate; rather, imitate Moses, who
rejected all his treasures in Egypt for Christ.
Above all, look to Jesus, who refused the devil’s
offer of all the glories of the kingdoms of this
world. He endured the cross for the joy that was
set before him. So fix your eyes on Jesus and
know the benefits of your present sufferings.
123
manifest themselves as irreligious, secular IV. Lack of Love or Concern for Others
hedonists who live to satisfy their bodily desires (but an obsession with self)
rather than pleasing God. They are like Esau, who
a. “The second is like it, ’YOU SHALL LOVE
rejected his firstborn rights to covenant blessings.
YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ (Matthew
He looked at spiritual blessings, and he looked
22:39)
at the delicious cup of soup, and happily made
the trade. b. “A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another, even as I have loved you, that
Not only was Esau the firstborn, but he was you also love one another. (John 13:34)
also circumcised, which was the sign of the
c. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
covenant. Yet this covenant child became an
but with humility of mind regard one another as
apostate. Therefore, keep an eye on those who
more important than yourselves; (Philippians
are hedonists and secularists. Such people are
2:3)
fools, for they affirm the temporal world and deny
God. They are materialists who have no interest V. Lack of Involvement with Kingdom
in God and his word, but only live to indulge their Work
bodily appetites. That is why fasting is a good
a. Most churches struggle to get its members
thing, especially in American churches. Such
involved.
hedonists despise all discipline. They seek
pleasure and avoid pain. They leave Jesus for b. One of the loudest complaints of Christians “I
Moses and live a life governed by lust. Like Judas, don’t feel a part of church, I don’t feel involved.”
they sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Like
Achan, they break covenant for gold and silver.
122 79
i. It’s hard to feel involved when you only come
on Sunday mornings or only once in a while
c. Since we have gifts that differ according to the
grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them
accordingly: if prophecy, according to the
proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving;
or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who
exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who
shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-
8)
d. As each one has received a special gift, employ
it in serving one another as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
VI. Lack of Regard for the Truth (out-of-
control Pride)
a. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
(John 17:17)
b. Are we willing to allow God’s Word to tell us
we’re wrong? If not, we have a lack of regard for
the truth.
80
do this wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen.
39:9). Flee all sexual immorality. There is coming
a day the Lord will judge the secrets of men’s
hearts. “Marriage should be honored by all and
the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge
the adulterer and the sexually immoral” (Heb.
13:4). William Barclay, a liberal theologian,
states, “If a young man loses his purity or a girl
her virginity, nothing can ever bring it back. The
choice was made and the choice stands.” Young
people, keep in mind that our choices have
eternal consequences.
It is our job as shepherds to keep the church
pure of sexual immorality. The unrepentant
sexually immoral person must be put out of the
church. Discipline, the third mark of the church,
should be vigorously practiced, especially today,
when it is deliberately neglected out of fear.
Finally, the writer warns us to watch out
for any profane, godless people like Esau. Bitter-
root people are always in the church. They soon
121
Jesus Christ and I am with you in spirit, and the
power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man
over to Satan, so that the flesh may be destroyed
and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord” (1
Cor. 5:1, 4-5). Then he warns, “Don’t you know
that a little yeast works through the whole batch
of dough?” (1 Cor. 5:6). We must be careful and
observant. To Timothy he writes, “Avoid godless
chatter because those who indulge in it will
become more and more ungodly. Their teaching
will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered
away from the truth. They say that the
resurrection has already taken place, and they
destroy the faith of some” (2 Tim. 2:16-17). Watch
out for such people. They are troublemakers and
idolaters who have no interest in the word of God,
peace, or holiness. They are heretics who practice
their immorality in the church itself. Today
immorality and fornication is like eating ice
cream-even in the church. May God raise up
young people like Joseph who said, “How can I
120
VII. A Critical, Bitter Spirit
a. “Why do you look at the speck that is in your
brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in
your own eye? “Or how can you say to your
brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’
and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to take the speck
out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
b. But if you bite and devour one another, take
care that you are not consumed by one another.
(Galatians 5:15)
Invitation: An isolated, short-term
manifestation of one of these symptoms does not
mean you have fallen away from Christ.
Persistence of the problem over a period of time,
however, is serious!
81
 CHAPTER NINE
THERE’S A WOLF IN THE HOUSE - SIGNS OF
APOSTASY
There is a danger that has come into the
sheepfold; apostates have come in and they
probably have always been here. However, with
the prevalence of social media, their influence has
spread and it is more important than ever before
to recognize the marks of an apostate, a person
who at one time knew and maybe even taught
the truths of the Bible but walked away or a
person who consistently teaches false doctrines
to the Church. Jude, the Lord’s youngest human
brother, points out several signs of an apostate
and I want to draw your attention to them.
In the Book of Jude, we find the clear
picture of what apostasy is;
1 Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of
James: To those who are the called, loved by God
the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. 2 May
mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
82
Such people are like Korah, who influenced
many to oppose Moses. They are like the ten spies
who brought an evil report and defiled many,
causing many to rebel and be killed. Such people
can cause great trouble in the church, destroying
its peace and holiness and staining many. That
is what the Greek text says. They spread their
apostasy like a contagious disease. They are like
the second and third soils in the Lord’s parable
of the soils. They bear no good fruit, and the fruit
they bear is bitter and poisonous. They go after
the idols of pleasure and wealth. Always
murmuring and complaining, they are like the
majority of the Israelites in the wilderness who,
because of unbelief, did not enter into God’s rest.
Be shepherds of God’s people. Keep your
eyes open for bitter roots of idolaters and
troublemakers in the church. Paul exhorted the
Corinthian church: “It is actually reported that
there is sexual immorality among you, and of a
kind that does not occur even among pagans. . . .
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord
119
listening carefully to the preached word. God
gives us grace through all of these means. God
gives grace to the humble, that we may grow in
grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Each
one, therefore, is to watch over the others, that
everyone may have grace and no one becomes
apostate. Are you watching, or are you sleeping,
like the blind watchmen of Israel (Is. 56:9-12)?
SEE TO IT THAT NO BITTER ROOT SPRINGS UP
We are also told to watch that no bitter root
spring up and cause trouble, defiling many (Heb.
12:15). The author is quoting Deuteronomy 29:18.
A bitter root refers to a false brother, an idol
worshiper, who lives among God’s people and
pretends to be a Christian. Such a person may
appear to be very charming and charismatic, but
his true intentions are hidden, as a root is hidden.
But sooner or later the root will spring up and
manifest itself, and his true colors will be
revealed.
118
3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write
you about the salvation we share, I found it
necessary to write and exhort you to contend for
the faith that was delivered to the saints once
for all. 4 For some men, who were designated
for this judgment long ago, have come in by
stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of
our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus
Christ, our only Master and Lord.
Right away we begin to see the
characteristics of the Apostates that Jude warns
about…
1.) Apostates are ungodly (v. 4)
When the New Testament writers say that
a person is ungodly, it does not simply mean that
the person does not know God, it also means that
he does not have a character that is consistent
with the revealed Person and Nature of God.
2.) They are morally perverted (v. 4)
In the NIV, promiscuity is translated as
83
 “license to commit immorality.” Among other 6:1). Elsewhere he speaks about falling away from
things, these apostates teach that there is no need grace (Gal. 5:4).
to struggle to overcome sin. The Greek word
rendered as contend, or contend earnestly (NKV, Without grace, we become apostates. We
NASB) is agonizomai from which we derive the need more grace, and, thankfully, more grace is
word agonize. Because our sinful nature will not available. We have the Spirit of grace, the Spirit
easily be transformed into Christlikeness, it can who gives us grace (Heb. 10:29). We have the
seem agonizing, at times to give up that sin in word of God’s grace (Acts 20:32). We can come
order to be more like Christ. to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find
grace for all our needs (Heb. 4:16). Hebrews 13:9
Many, many apostates teach instead that
tells us, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of
God will give you all the things you want: health,
strange teaching. It is good for our hearts to be
wealth, possessions, influence, etc and all you
strengthened by grace.”
have to do is “sow the best offering that you can”
without any call to true repentance or humility.
We need the strength of God’s grace to run
Examples of such teachers include but are not
the race of the Christian life. Paul said that though
limited to Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland,
he was given a thorn in the flesh, God told him,
Kenneth Hagin, Jesse Duplantis, Rod Parsley,
“My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, Mark Chironna and scads
Grace comes to us in many ways from God to
of others. One has even gone so far as to say that
meet our every need. Such means include reading
anyone who tells you to deny yourself is from
the word of God daily, praying daily, worshiping
Satan. These ignore the command of Jesus to
regularly, fellowshipping with the people of God
deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him
frequently, receiving the Lord’s Supper often, and
(Matthew 16:24).
84 117
 When I have problems, please do not leave Consider helping us continue to fight the
me alone; rather, counsel me and help me to good fight by donating.
pursue peace and holiness. We need each other
In truth, you do not even have to teach
to be made holy through Jesus Christ.
grace as a license to sin however you please to
turn grace into license, all you have to do is refuse
We are exhorted to see to it that not even
to teach the truth of God’s grace, that it saves you
one fails to experience the grace of God, that not
from sin and its power not simply that it saves
even one becomes an apostate, that not even one
you from hell. And just in case you were going to
turns away from Jesus to Moses, meaning from
object and say that such things are not perverted,
the new covenant to the old covenant, from life
the definition of perverse is something that is
to death, from reality to shadow. We must
contrary to the generally accepted standard or
exercise our responsibility to others. “Therefore
practice. Since the Bible is our standard, anything
since the promise of entering his rest still stands,
contradicting the Bible or anything taught in the
let us be careful that no one of you be found to
pulpit that does not match Scripture is, by
have fallen short of it. . . .Let us, therefore, make
definition, perverted.
every effort to enter that rest so that no one will
fall by following their example of disobedience . . 3.) Apostates Deny Christ (v. 4)
. .We want each of you to show the same diligence
to the very end in order to make your hope sure” Ultimately, this leads to a denial of Christ;
(Heb. 4:1, 11; 6:11). To come short of the grace of the Jesus taught and embraced by the apostates
God means to come short of the rest of salvation. simply is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Paul writes, “As God’s fellow workers, we urge Apostates: Past and Present
you not to receive God’s grace in vain” (2 Cor.
116 85
5 Now I want to remind you, though you know
all these things: The Lord first saved a people
out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did
not believe; 6 and He has kept, with eternal
chains in darkness for the judgment of the great
day, the angels who did not keep their own
position but deserted their proper dwelling. 7 In
the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the
cities around them committed sexual immorality
and practiced perversions, just as angels did,
and serve as an example by undergoing the
punishment of eternal fire. 8 Nevertheless, these
dreamers likewise defile their flesh, reject
authority, and blaspheme glorious ones.
4.) They defile the flesh (v.7& 8)
As we are seeing today, apostates defile the
flesh in ungodly and unbiblical ways. Some of my
evangelical brethren will immediately point to
homosexuality but what about other sins:
drunkenness, gluttony (I think I have only heard
one sermon on gluttony in 25 years), fornication,
domestic violence (yes the Bible actually
86
pure in their own eyes, and yet are not cleansed
of their filth” (Prov. 30:12).
When we sin, we need other people to tell
us to get rid of that sin so that we can go to heaven.
Listen to the language of Jesus himself as he
spoke to the church of Laodicea: “You say, ‘I am
rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a
thing.’ But you do not realize that you are
wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Rev.
3:17). Paul writes of such people, “For this reason
God sends them a powerful delusion so that they
will believe the lie and so that all will be
condemned who have not believed the truth but
have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thess. 2:11-12).
We should not tell those who counsel us to
live a holy life to leave us alone and mind their
own business. As fellow members of the body of
Christ and the family of God, we cannot mind our
own business when it comes to our brothers’
problems. Individualism may be as American as
apple pie, but it is not biblical.
115
with the Spirit . . . [and] submit to one another
out of reverence for Christ. . . . Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit. But in humility,
consider others better than yourselves. Each of
you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others” (Eph. 5:18, 21;
Phil. 2:3-4).
Each person must make sure the
community is biblically healthy, that there is no
division, that there is peace, and that there is no
heresy or evil in the midst. Cain was wrong when
he said he was not his brother’s keeper. In the
church, we are our brothers’ keepers, and we
ourselves need the pastoral care of others to keep
us from self-deception. “There is a way that seems
right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”
(Prov. 14:12). How many people are self-
deceived, insisting that their ways are right! But
they do not know that the end thereof is the way
of death: “There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers, those who are
114
addresses this topic which I have never in my life
heard addressed in the pulpit).
Defiling the flesh refers primarily to sexual
sin (1 Corinthians 6:18) which is a sin against
one’s own body, but this is not exclusive.
Remember that Jude’s oldest half-brother, the
Lord Jesus Himself, even went so far as to equate
contemplating the sin with the actual sin itself
(Matthew 5:27-28). When is the last time you
heard a sermon about sexual lust (lust of the
flesh), greed (lust of the eyes), or counteracting
the boastful pride of life by being poor in spirit?
5.) Apostates are Rebellious (v. 8)
By not teaching what the Bible actually
says, these apostates live in and encourage
rebellion in others. A pastor once told me that
1% out of submission is equal to being 100% in
rebellion against God. To deny a doctrine, the
reality of hell for example (Rob Bell) and to teach
that denial to others is absolute rebellion against
God. To refuse to yield to the Authority of
87
Scripture is to refuse to yield to the Author. They
go hand in hand; authority entails submission.
6.) Apostates Revile holy angels (v. 8)
This is a mark against Pentecostals if I ever
saw one. Growing up Pentecostal, I cannot tell
you how many times I have seen pastors “bind”
satan or command him to do this or that; both of
which are patently absurd. If Michael, the highest
angel (archangel means chief angel) dares not to
speak against the devil, what in the world
possesses a “Christian” to do so? There is no
biblical justification to think you can command
an angel to do anything. Even fallen angels serve
at the pleasure of God Almighty and Him alone.
They advance His agenda and they fulfill His
sovereign decrees and so, not matter how much
your favorite teacher might tell you otherwise,
you cannot command them to do anything and it
is ridiculous to think the opposite.
7.) Essentially, Apostates are ignorant (v.
8)
88
We are responsible for their peace and holiness
as well as ours.
True, the Lord has appointed apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to
prepare God’s people for works of service so that
the body of Christ may be built up and brought
to maturity (Eph. 4:11-13). We thank God for
godly shepherds he has granted to the church.
The Hebrews writer exhorts us: “Obey your
leaders and submit to your authority. They keep
watch over you as men who must give an account.
Obey them, so that their work will be a joy, not a
burden, for that would be of no advantage to you”
(Heb. 13:17).
Yet Hebrews 12:15 is telling us that each
believer also has a responsibility of watching over
both himself and others, a responsibility of
functioning as anepiskopos. In one sense, then,
each person in the body of Christ is a pastor and
a watchman for the welfare of the entire
community. Paul speaks of this also: “Be filled
113
immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and
everyone who loves and practices falsehood. But
blessed are those who wash their robes, that they
may have the right to the tree of life, and may go
through the gates into the city of God” (Rev.
21:27; 22:15).
SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE MISSES THE GRACE OF
GOD
“See to it that no one misses the grace of
God and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many” (Heb. 12:15). Here we
find an interesting Greek word, episkopountes,
which is translated, “See to it.” This is a present
participle declaring that all people of God are to
function as overseers. We are to run the Christian
race, pursuing peace and holiness, but we are not
to run alone. We are running the race together
with others as God’s dear children. There is no
Jesus and me. It is Jesus and us, the church, the
body of Christ, the family of God. Therefore, we
have a responsibility to the rest of God’s children.
112
The behavior we have discussed so far
demonstrates and absolute willful ignorance of
both the Things of God and of His Person. To
know Him as He is demands that one is to submit
to Him. Look to Revelation chapter one and see
the reaction of John when he saw just a picture
of the Resurrected Christ and you will see what
kind of response a true knowledge of God the Son
results in.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when he was
disputing with the Devil in a debate about Moses’
body, did not dare bring an abusive
condemnation against him but said, “The Lord
rebuke you!” 10 But these people blaspheme
anything they don’t understand. What they
know by instinct like unreasoning animals—they
destroy themselves with these things.
8.) Apostates are continually having vain
ideas (vs. 8-10)
Continuing with the idea of ignorance,
apostates have vain/foolish ideas. Word of Faith
89
teachers, for example, tell you that you can name
and claim your promise from Scripture and
activate a response from God based on your faith.
This is hubris and is no different than the idea of
“binding satan.” I have heard them justify this
nonsense by saying all the promises of God are
yea and amen. That is only half the truth and is
therefore not the truth. All of God’s promises are
yea and amen but only in so far as to the person(s)
they apply to. I will bless them that bless you and
curse them that curse you is a very true promise
but it only applies to the Nation of Israel for that
is whom God made the promise to.
It is utter vanity and foolishness to presume
anything upon Him Who sits upon the Throne.
Do not allow yourself to mistake God’s patience
for tolerance. Every person living will have their
appointed time before the Throne; the Righteous
will see the Bema (the Judgment Seat for
rewards) and the wicked and apostates will see
the Great White Throne as Heaven’s court
dispenses eternal justice.
90
the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s second
coming] approaching” (Heb. 10:25).
God warns us, “But my righteous one will
live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be
pleased with him” (Heb. 10:38). Shrinking back
is becoming apostate and living an unholy life.
Jesus promises, “Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8). There is no
salvation for those without sanctification and are
unholy. Antinomians shall not see God. On that
day the Lord will tell them, “I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt. 7:23).
Throughout the Old Testament God
commands his people, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
This same requirement of holiness is found in
John’s description of the new Jerusalem:
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will
anyone who does what is shameful and deceitful,
but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s book of life . . . . Outside are the dogs,
those who practice magic arts, the sexually
111
to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thess. 4:3,
7). John states, “Everyone who has this hope in
him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John
3:3). Peter says the same thing: “Since everything
will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people
ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly
lives as you look forward to the day of God and
speed its coming” (2 Pet. 3:11-12).
Holiness is not optional. It is the essential
condition of seeing God both now and in eternity:
“Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb.
12:14). In speaking about the second coming, the
Hebrews writer says, “So Christ was sacrificed
once to take away the sins of many people. And
he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but
to bring salvation to those who are waiting for
him” (Heb. 9:28). But without holiness no one
shall see God, because such a man is an apostate.
(PGM) Thus, the writer exhorts, “Let us not give
up meeting together as some are in the habit of
doing. But let us encourage one another, and all
110
9.) Apostasy leads to self-destruction (v.
10)
What is the natural end result of apostasy?
Self-destruction. God does not have to directly
do anything to these, all He has to do is say to
them, “thy will be done” and step aside. How
many ministries have been damaged and even
destroyed by ministers who thought they could
get away with this or that? I would list names but
that is impractical.
I can say from personal experience, getting
your own way can be deadly, to your soul as well
as your body. After all, there is a way which
seemeth right unto a man and the end thereof is
destruction. (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25)
11 Woe to them! For they have traveled in
the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to
the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished
in Korah’s rebellion.
The Apostates’ Doom
91
12 These are the ones who are like dangerous
reefs[e] at your love feasts. They feast with you,
nurturing only themselves without fear. They
are waterless clouds carried along by winds;
trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead,
pulled out by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea,
foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering
stars for whom the blackness of darkness is
reserved forever! 14 And Enoch, in the seventh
generation from Adam, prophesied about them:
Look! The Lord comes[f] with thousands of His
holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to
convict them[g] of all their ungodly acts that
they have done in an ungodly way, and of all
the harsh things ungodly sinners have said
against Him. 16 These people are discontented
grumblers, walking according to their desires;
their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering
people for their own advantage.
Apostates are…
10.) Grumblers (v. 16)
11.) Fault finders (v. 16)
92
unregenerate. They are still dead in their
trespasses and sins.
Unlike justification or regeneration,
sanctification is a process in which we strive and
cooperate with God, who sanctifies us. Our
sanctification will not reach perfection in this life.
Yet progressively we shall increase in holiness
and become more like Jesus.
In the previous passage we learned that
God’s painful discipline brings about holiness.
Holiness is inextricably linked to God’s discipline.
Without discipline we will not experience
holiness. Let us, therefore, make the pursuit of
holiness our great quest instead of the American
dream of money and the happiness that money
can buy.
Paul writes, “It is God’s will that you should
be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality; that each of you should learn to
control his own body . . . For God did not call us
109
the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). May there be peace
in our families, in the church, and in ourselves.
Let us do everything to enjoy peace, though not
at the expense of the gospel.
MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE HOLY
The Hebrews writer next admonishes us to
pursue holiness in all of life. It is another
continuous command. Louis Berkhof defines
sanctification as “that gracious and continuous
operation of the Holy Spirit, by which He delivers
the justified sinner from the pollution of sin,
renews his whole nature in the image of God, and
enables him to perform good works.” In
justification, God declares us righteous. In
sanctification, God makes us righteous.
The justified shall be sanctified and
glorified. In other words, he whom God
regenerates he justifies, and he whom God
justifies he sanctifies. Sanctification is the proof
of justification and regeneration. Unholy
Christians are unjustified and therefore
108
12.) Self-seeking (v. 16)
13.) Arrogant speakers (v. 16)
14.) Flatterers (v. 16)
I will deal with all of these together: they are
person centric and reflect the oldest sin in the
book, pride. Pride is that sin which caused Lucifer
to lose his place in heaven and it will do you the
same favor. Pride looks at another, finds his/her
deficiency and then exalts self because you don’t
have that particular deficiency. It causes one to
puff up and think of oneself more than he/she
really is. Pride, the oldest known sin, is the truest
and surest mark of the apostate. No matter what
other signs you see, the Christian that
demonstrates pride is on treacherous ground and
in real danger of going where one does not want
to be, apostasy.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what was
predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ; 18 they told you, “In the end time there
93
will be scoffers walking according to their own
ungodly desires.”
15.) In a sense, apostates are mockers (v.
18)
2 Peter 3:4, They will say where is the promise of
His coming. I would add to that, they will say
things like no serious Christian believes in Hell
or, no loving, tolerant Christian rejects gays, or
they will dismiss the creation account as a myth/
a metaphor.
Mark it out, every single apostate has some
passage or doctrine that he does not like and by
dismissing it, they make a mockery of God…for
now. These people create divisions and are
unbelievers, not having the Spirit.
16.) Cause division (v. 19)
17.) Worldly-minded
18.) Without the Spirit(v. 19)
94
fighting. David says, “How good and pleasant it
is when brothers live together in unity! . . For
there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life
forevermore” (Ps. 133:1, 3). From this we can
understand that when there is division, there is
curse and death.
Paul speaks of the same thing: “If it is
possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace
with everyone” (Rom. 12:18). Do not be a source
of trouble in a family or in God’s church. Paul
also writes, “Let us therefore make every effort
to do what leads to peace and to mutual
edification” (Rom. 14:19).
Sin destroys peace. Sin is self-seeking at the
expense of the welfare of the community. But love
sacrifices for the welfare of others. How can we
look at the cross of Christ and not be at peace
with one another! As Christians, let us be filled
with the Spirit, who produces in us the fruit of
the Spirit known as peace. Paul exhorts, “Make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through
107
peace with all men and to be holy; without
holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
Again, it is a present imperative. All our lives we
are to make every effort to seek peace and live in
peace, especially with members of the Christian
community. When Paul heard that there were
divisions in the Corinthian church, he urged them
to agree with each other and be united in heart
and mind. The reason he gave is that Christ is
not divided, implying Christ’s church should not
be either (1 Cor. 1:10-13).
Our God is called the God of peace (Heb.
13:20), the God who gives peace and established
peace by the cross of Christ between God and
man, as well as between men: “Therefore, since
we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Rom. 5:1). Jesus Christ is called the Prince of
peace, and his gospel is the gospel of peace.
Believers are blessed by God for being
peacemakers. How, then, can God’s children fight
with each other? It is ugly to go a church that is
106
Apostates cause division in the church
because they are worldly minded and they are
worldly minded because they do not have the
Holy Spirit and they do not have the Holy Spirit
because they are worldly minded. It’s a vicious
cycle once you walk away from the truth of
Scripture and only the Holy Spirit can bring you
back.
Exhortation and Benediction
20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves
up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy
Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for
eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who doubt;
23 save others by snatching them from the fire;
have mercy on others but with fear, hating even
the garment defiled by the flesh. 24 Now to Him
who is able to protect you from stumbling and
to make you stand in the presence of His glory,
blameless and with great joy, 25 to the only God
our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be
glory, majesty, power, and authority before all
time, now and forever. Amen.
95
 Beloved, you may be reading this and say
that you have seen some of these signs in your
own life. That is both good and bad news. It is
bad in that a propensity toward apostasy may
exist but it is good in that the Holy Spirit is doing
His work of convicting sin. What should you do
if you see signs of apostasy in your life or if you
are following a False Teacher? Repent right away.
If the Holy Spirit is convicting you, agree with
Him immediately and confess that sin. He will
restore to communion with Him and you can
continue to grow in grace.
96
in the way of a godly father’s wise instruction
(Prov. 4). We must walk in the highway of
holiness that Isaiah speaks about: “And a
highway will be there; it will be called the Way of
Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it
will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked
fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will
not be found there. But only the redeemed will
walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will
return. They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness
and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and
sighing will flee away” (Is. 35:8-9). Do not turn
to the right or to the left, lest you become an
apostate. Follow Jesus, who opened up for us a
new and living way to the Father.
MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LIVE IN PEACE
If we want to avoid the danger of apostasy,
we must pursue, strive, make every effort, and
be very diligent: “Make every effort to live in
105
level, firm paths, not crooked paths that stray to CHAPTER TEN
the right or to the left. Such twisted ways would
THE DANGER OF APOSTASY
dislocate our ankles and prevent us from running
the race. That would be apostasy.
Hebrews 12:12-17 warns us about the
The psalmist warns, “But those who turn
danger of apostasy. Apostasy means to stand
to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the
away from something-in this case, to stand away
evildoers” (Ps. 125:5). Isaiah says about the
from God, from life, from light, from wisdom,
wicked, “The way of peace they do not know;
from hope, and from all that is good. An apostate
there is no justice in their paths. They have turned
person is the most miserable person in the world.
them into crooked roads; no one who walks in
Hell is full of apostates.
them will know peace” (Is. 59:8). Here, then, we
are told to make level paths for our feet and In some ways we are all tempted to become
continuously walk on these paths that lead to apostates. Five minutes into my regular treadmill
eternal life. We must travel all our lives on the exercise, I get discouraged and want to stand
well-traveled ancient paths, which is the straight away from it. But I persevere for the full forty
and narrow way of the word of God. minutes. Some married people decide after a few
years that they want to stand away from
The Lord spoke through Jeremiah, “Stand
marriage. They divorce, which is a form of
at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient
apostasy. Others may have jobs they want to
paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
stand away from, and they find all sorts of reasons
and you will find rest for your souls. But you said,
not to go to work. That is also apostasy. Some
‘We will not walk in it’” (Jer. 6:16). We must walk
104 97
people join churches, only to stand away from
them later on. May God help us to learn from this
passage how to avoid this serious danger of
apostasy.
In our previous studies we learned that the
Lord pours out wrath on those who reject his Son
and the salvation he accomplished on the cross.
But God does not pour his wrath out upon those
who believe in his Son. Our heavenly Father does
not discipline unbelievers, but he disciplines his
children, that they may share in his holiness and
become like him. God from all eternity purposed
that his adopted children be holy and blameless,
so that they may dwell with him forever. Divine
discipline is proof of our heavenly Father’s love
and relationship to us. Therefore we must by
grace endure our Father’s discipline, though it is
painful for the moment. As I said, when I exercise,
I often want to quit. But I endure and later rejoice
that I did so, and am able to work more
productively. Likewise, the author of Hebrews
tells us that we must endure God’s painful
98
spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are
in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another-and all the more as you see the Day is
approaching.” Paul similarly speaks of the
responsibility of the strong to the weak: “We who
are strong ought to bear with the failings of the
weak and not please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1). He
also says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin,
you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
But watch yourselves or you also may be
tempted” (Gal. 6:1). James, the brother of the
Lord, teaches, “My brothers, if one of you should
wander from the truth and someone should bring
him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner
from the error of his way will save him from
death,” that is, eternal damnation, “and cover
over a multitude of sin” (James 5:19-20).
After we are told to strengthen our
drooping hands and weak knees, the author says
to “make level paths for your feet.” As we go on
in our Christian lives, we must choose straight,
103
are told to keep our eyes on the finish line,
straighten out our hands and knees, and keep
running.
In the Greek, the word for “straighten up”
is a present imperative, something God
commands us to do continuously. God is
commanding us to run this race every day of our
lives. If we quit, we are not children of God, for
the elect of God will run the race to the finish.
We must not become weary and faint; God will
help us. We are to compare our sufferings with
those of Christ, and realize that ours are but
trifles.
There is also the suggestion here that the
strong believers must help the weak ones, that
they also may finish the race. The author spoke
about this idea earlier: “But encourage one
another daily as long as it is called Today, so that
no one of you may be hardened by sin’s
deceitfulness” (Heb. 3:13). In Hebrews 10:24-25
he also exhorts, “And let us consider how we may
102
discipline in view of the future blessings it will
yield in our lives.
The Christian life is like a footrace. In view
of the good design of God’s loving discipline, the
Hebrews author now exhorts God’s children to
strengthen their feeble hands and palsied,
paralyzed knees and run the race until they reach
the finish line. He is giving us the practical
application of the doctrine of discipline.
STRENGTHEN YOUR FEEBLE ARMS AND WEAK
KNEES
The first exhortation is to strengthen
ourselves: “Therefore, strengthen your feeble
arms and weak knees. ‘Make level paths for your
feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but
rather healed” (vv. 12-13). In the Greek it means,
“Straighten up the drooping hands and weak
knees.” In Luke 6 Jesus on a Sabbath day
commanded a man with a shriveled hand to
stretch out his hand. He did so, and his hand was
99
completely restored. In fact, Paul tells us that one
purpose of Scripture is to correct us (2 Tim. 3:16).
Many people do not like rebuke and correction.
But God gives us his word for that very purpose,
so that we may be straightened up from our
crookedness and restored.
The believers in this Hebrew church were
discouraged, despondent, and exhausted because
of their trials and persecutions. They wanted to
quit before finishing the race. They were in
danger of becoming apostates. Therefore, the
author exhorts them, “Consider [Jesus] . . . so
that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb.
12:3). Then he encourages them from the book
of Proverbs, “My son, do not make light of the
Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when he
rebukes you” (Heb. 12:5). He then says,
“Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees”
(v. 12).
The phrase “feeble [or drooping] hands and
weak knees” is an idiom used to describe people
100
who are about to quit a race. Eliphaz used similar
language when he spoke to Job: “Think how you
have instructed many, how you have
strengthened feeble hands. Your words have
supported those who stumbled; you have
strengthened faltering knees” (Job 4:3-4). Philo
uses this expression also to refer to those who
rebelled against Moses in the wilderness because
they wanted to quit and return to Egypt. The
Hebrews author is exhorting the Jewish believers
to receive strength from the teaching on God’s
discipline and keep running the Christian race.
We all are tempted to quit at times. Here
we are exhorted to keep on running and enduring
God’s discipline. We are told to look to the cloud
of God’s saints who have already run the race and
are with the Lord. Above all, we must look to
Jesus, who endured the shameful death of the
cross. We must learn the purpose of divine
discipline and endure it so that we may enjoy its
spiritual benefits later on. We must resist self-
pity, sulking, dismay, and discouragement. We
101